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rm|PYQ|l|{||,oi,II)eUeisofkStaaiiiloali. 

UlliriLll    I         Ulllll    I  BY     CAPTAIN    MARK    WILTON. 


A  Thrilling  Tale  of  Sheridan  and  His  Men. 


Cavalry  Sam's  Sword  Combat  with  the  Guerrilla  of  the  Shenandoah. 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


CAVAIiRY  SAM; 


Eider    of     the    Shenandoah. 


BY   CAPT.    MARK    WILTON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  GATHERING  STORM. 

A  dark  cloud  was  over  the  La'.^::  of  free- 
dom. The  long  pent-up  fires  of  discord  were 
showing  increased  veuom,  luid  there  was 
every  iudicatlon  that  the  threatening  vol- 
e:\iio  would  soon  belch  forth  its  stream  of 
destruction. 

Sectional  animosity  was  going  from  bad  to 
worse,  and  if  the  signs  were  not  deceptive, 
grim  war  would  soon  stalk  hand  .a  hand 
with  death  across  fair  fields  and  over  peace- 
ful thresholds. 

It  was  the  spring  of  1861,  and  every  in- 
habitant of  the  United  States  was  in  a  state 
of  nervous  expectancy. 

Down  in  South  Carolina,  an  ominous  pro- 
logue was  being  enacted,  which  presaged  a 
red  drama. 

General  Bi'auregard  lay  threateningly  be- 
fore Fort  Sumter,  and  the  whole  country 
was  listening  for  the  sound  of  the  first  gun. 

All  expected  it,  but  hoped  to  see  the  storm 
pass  by,  and  their  heritage  cf  freedom  left 
intact. 

On  a  pleasant  day  in  April,  a  single  horse- 
man was  riding  at  an  easy  canter  along  the 
road,  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Shenan- 
doah River,  and  at  a  point  west  of  Mana«ses 
Gap.  It  was  fair  and  pleasant  ground,  and 
as  he  went,  he  passed  grand  plantations, 
where  lived  the  chivalry  of  Virginia. 

The  rider,  himself,  did  not  look  less  aristo- 
eratiothan  the  proud  dwellers  by  the  old 
river ;  in  fact,  a  nobler  specimen  of  mankind 
had  seldom  been  seen  on  the  broad  road. 
Youth,  strength  and  manly  comeliness  were 
his  visible  endowments,  and  if  the  costly  but 
modest  style  of  dress  went  for  anything, 
wealth  might  be  added  to  the  others. 

He  was  aljout  twenty-flve  years  of  age,  six 
feet  ill  height,  broad  of  shoulders,  full  of 
chest,  and  with  long  arms  and  large  hands, 
whicli  indicated  great  strength. 

Such  a  man  might  have  been  a  gladiator 
in  the  old  days,  but  the  white  hands  and 
dress  of  the  lone  rider  showed  that  he  was 
not  among  those  who  toiled  for  a  living 


pearance.  Mounted  on  a  large  black  horse, 
he  sat  in  the  saddle  like  a  Centaur,  every 
movement  full  of  ease  and  grace,  and  few 
persons  would  pass  him  without  taking  an 
adiJitional  look. 

With  his  fine  form  and  face,  his  dark  eyes, 
heavy  mustache,  and  black,  curling  hair,  he 
somehow  brought  up  thoughts  of  the  old- 
time  knights  of  chivalry,  and  proud  indeed 
might  be  the  man  or  woman  who  called  him 
friend. 

For  two  miles  after  leaving  the  river-road, 
he  rode  as  before,  and  then  moderated  his 
pace  as  he  came  in  sight  of  a  gran(?old  plan- 
tation. 

Broad  fields  were  there,  and  all  richly 
cultivated,  while  the  house,  half-ancient, 
half-modern,    bespoke    the    wealth    of    its 


It  was  a  fine  scene,  but  one  so  familiar  to 
the  rider,  that  he  gave  only  a  casual  glance 
and  went  on  toward  the  house. 


flash  of  mischief  passed  over  the  horseman' 
face. 

The  soft  footing  deadened  all  sound  of  his 
approach,  and  he  rode  close  to  the  boy,  bent 
from  his  saddle,  and,  seizing  him  by  the 
heels,  lifted  him  clear  off  the  ground,  and 
left  him  hanging  head  down. 

The  colored  youth— he  was  superlatively 
black — came  out  of  his  blissful  unconscious- 
ness with  a  yelp  and  a  squirm  which  be- 
trayed his  alarm,  but  the  tall  rider  held 
fast  and  began  laughing  lo'.dly. 

Evidently  the  boy  at  first  believed  himself 
in  some  dreadful  danger,  but  as  he  managed 
to  gain  sight  of  the  other's  face  his  mood 
changed,  and,  despite  his  jjosition,  a  broad 
grin  overspread  his  chubby  face. 

"Hi I  is  dat  you,  Massa  Sam?"  he  cried. 
"Thought  dat  Tom  Millet  got  me,  suah. 
Wat  for  you  serbe  niggah  dis  way,  sah? 
Ain't  you  carryin'  de  joke  too  fur?" 

"  I'm  trying  to  elevate  the  colored  race, 
you  black  rascal,"  laughed  the  horseman. 
"What  are  you  kicking  for?  Can't  you 
l>ear  your  honors  more  modestly?" 

"  Fore  de  Lord,  Massa  Sam,  you's  done  put 
."  ly'iag'rata  my  head,  an'  de  current  runs  de 


wrong  way.  Leff  me  go, 
Massa  Warburton  loses 
Yah!  yah! 


ye,  s 

best    nigger. 

ah!  yam  • 

The  boy  was  taking  all  in  good  part,  but 
Sam,  as  he  had  called  the  rider,  knew  the 
position  was  not  comfortable,  and  by  a 
quick  movement  he  reversed  the  youth  and 
set  him  ou  his  feet. 

"  There  you  are,  my  gay  Cleon,  all  safe  and 
sound,  though  it  isn't  your  good  wit  that 
makes  you  so.  It  Tom  Millet  had  caught 
you  asleep  on  the  grass,  he  would  have 
cracked  his  whip  on  the  best  darky  on  the 
plantation." 

"  Hi  1  hi !  let  rae  alnnc  fur  dat,  sah.  Tom, 
be  gone  down  to  de  vill:i:r(!  an'  I  tek  a  sleep 
while  de  suu  sliiiies,  Tiun  won't  catch  dis 
niggah  asleep,  not  mnsli,  Massa  Sam." 

"Bee  to  it  he  don't,"  said  Sam,  more  seri- 
ously. 

He  liked  this  chubby  colored  boy  well, 
knowing  him  to  be  honest  and  faithful 
as  the  day  was  long,  and  many  a  prank  like 
that  i"«t  recorded,  had  they  had  together. 
Sam  Carrington  owned  a  plantation  of  his 
own,  and  could  count  four-scoic  slaves,  but 
he  had  no  false  pride,  and  liis  cable  work- 
men clung  to  "  Massa  Sam  "  as  to  a  rock. 

What  more  the  planter  might  have  said  is 
uncertain,  for  at  that  moment  he  caught 
sight  of  a  lady  on  the  piazza  of  the  house 
who  seemed  to  be  watching  him  closely. 

He  sprang  from  his  black  horse,  tossed  the 
rein  to  Cleon,  and  went  lightly  up  the  .steps, 
a  smile  on  his  face,  for  f  lie  lady  was  Augus- 
ta Warburton,  the  daughter  ot  a  near  iitigli- 
bor— the  owner  of  the  plantation— he  had 
come  to  visit. 

They  were  acquaintances  of  many  years, 
and  had  always  been  on  good  terms,  though 
the  dissimilarity  of  their  natures  had  always 
stood  between  them  in  a  measure.  He  was 
frank,  free,  joyous  and  rollicking ;  she,  with 
all  her  beauty,  her  geuius  and  her  many 
gifts  of  nature,  coupled  with  a  reputation 
for  benevolence  and  kindness  of  heart,  so 
bound  up  in  family  pride  and  its  foibles 
that  he  was  often  disturbed  if  not  disgusted. 

She  looked  like  a  beautiful  statue,  as  she 
stood  ready  to  receive  him,  but  with  the 
blindness  of  his  frank  and  happy-go-lucky 
nature,  he  did  not  perceive  the  severe  and 
even  frowning  expression  on  her  face. 

He  half  expected  a  reprimand  for  being  so 
free  with  the  colored  boy,  but,  instead,  as 
she  gave  her  hand,  an  abrupt  and  unexpect- 
ed question  was  flung  in  his  lace. 

"  Have  you  enlisted,  Samuel  Carrington  ?" 

"Eh?"  he  said,  starting.  "I'm  not  sure  I 
understood  you,  but  I  may  have  heard 
aright.  Have  I  enlisted  ?  That  depends.  As 
your  admirer,  I  have,  but,  otherwise " 

"Have  done  with  nonsense,"  interrupted 
the  girl,  and  even  Sam  saw  the  strange,  red 
flush  ou  her  cheeks.  "I  am  not  in  a  mood 
for  jesting.  I  mean,  have  you  joined  the 
Confederate  army  to  fight  against  our 
Northern  oppressors  ?" 

His  face  grew  suddenly  grave. 

"I  trust  the  day  will  never  come  when 
any  one  will  do  that,"  he  proudly  said. 

"  Man,  have  you  not  heard  the  news  ?" 
she  cried.  "  One  would  think  you  an  actual 
hermit.  Do  you  know  what  day  it  is  ?  The 
twelfth  of  April,  1861— the  year  and  the  day 
when  a  new  republic  has  been  born,  and  a 
yoke  of  tyranny  thrown  off  the  sons  of  the 
South.  The  twelfth  of  April,  Samuel  Car- 
rington—and  yet,  you  have  not  heard  the 
news?" 

"  Not  a  word.    I  aave  been  twenty-four 

hours  in  the  swamp  with  Amaziah  Strout, 

and  no  one  has  crossed  my  path  since  then. 

Is  there  news?    Nothing  serious,  I  hope." 

'  It  will  prove  serious  for  the  North,"  was 


firing  on  Fort  Sumter  has  begun !" 

Samuel  Carrington  moved  backward  at 
the  last  words,  and  his  ruddy  face  changed 
color.  At  first,  a  stranger  might  have 
thought  the  signs  indicative  of  a  craven's 
fear,  but  even  the  proud  girl  before  him 
knew  that  ui,  oraver  man  than  he  lived  in 
old  Virginia. 

"No!"  he  exclaimed,  half  incredulously, 
half  as  though  pleading  for  her  to  withdraw 
her  assertion. 


tie  A 


try 


I  opened,  and,  I  doubt  not 


'Te 


gam- 


saw  then  that  she  was  in  earnest,  but 
his  haudsome  face  was  sterner  and  more 
gloomy  than  she  had  ever  before  seen  it. 

"They  are  mad!"  he  exclaimed.  "I  did 
not  think  it  would  oome  to  this ;  I  thought 
their  prepexatioDS  would   fall  through  in 


ite  of  all.    And  they  have  fired  on  the  o\d 

ig,  planning  to  dismember  our  broajd 
country.  Just  Heaven!  and  these  men  are 
my  countrymen!" 

"More,"  resumed  the  heiress;  "they  are 
your  fellow  Virginians ;  they  are  heroes." 

All  Virginians  are  heroes,"  declared  Car- 
rington, his  color retumlnga little.   "Heroes 

■   -y  are,  ■     ■    ■  

■Andi 

"  Because  they  have  fired  on  the  old  flag.' 

"When  the  flag  we  all  loved  once  becomes 
an  emblem  ot  tyranny,  it  is  time  to  fire  on 
tell  you,  Samuel  Carrington,  those  men 
are  destined  to  riuik  with  those  patriots  who 
fought  at  Lexington,  at  Bunker  Hill  and  at 
Concord ;  and  on  some  glorious  field  of 
Virgiuia  they  will  win  their  final  laurels  as 
the  men  of  '76  won  them  from  Comwallis." 

Miss  Warburton  spoke  with  enthusiasm. 
Her  tine  form  was  drawn  to  its  utmost  height; 
she  looked  liked  a  queen  delivering  a  proph- 
esy. Still,  the  man  before  her  scarcely  knew 
wiiat  she  said. 

"  A  civil  war,"  he  darkly  muttered.  "Men 
slaughtered,  fields  devastated,  houses  ruined 
and  women  suffering  for  clothing  and  food. 
Such  are  the  attendants  of  war.  And  the 
sunny  South,  the  South  I  love  so  well,  will 
be  crushed  from  its  own  mljfake.  Poor 
Virginia— poor  Virginia." 

He  put  his  hand  to  his  forehead  with  a 
gesture  which  almost  maddened  Miss  War- 
Inirton.  In  that  hour  when  she  was  so 
enthusiastic,  brave  and  confident,  it  touched 
her  to  the  quick  to  see  this  man  with  his 
youth  and  great  gifts  from  nature  fall  into 
so  gloomy  a  mood. 

He  was  lamenting  when,  in  her  opinion, 
he  should  have  been  full  of  fervor  and  joy. 


CHAPTER  II. 

"THERE  IS    NO    MIDDLE  COURSE.'' 

"Samuel  Carrington,"  cried  the  girl, 
passionately,  "what  am  I  to  think  of  you? 
Men  have  called  you  brave,  and  you  are  as 
good  a  shot  and  rider  as  lives  m  the  Old 
Dominion.  No  one  excels  you.  More  than 
that,  you  are  a  Virginian  born  and  bred,  and 
i-  state  is  going  with  the  united  South. 


fields  until  we  can  carry  the  war  beyond 
Mason  and  Dixon's  line.  Sir,  will  you  not  be 
found  fighting  among  the  foremost  ?" 

"  I  may  be  found  fighting,"  he  answered, 
in  a  firmer  voice;  "if  there  is  war  I  shall 
fight ;  but  it  will  not  be  against  the  stars  and 
stripes.  It  will  be  undei  the  old  flag  and  for 
a  united  country." 

Augusta  fairly  gasped.  Before,  she  had 
thought  him  tame,  perhaps  cowardly;  but 
now  she  had  heard  worse.  Ho  would  be 
against  the  South,  against  Virginia,  against 
even. 

But  it  was  so  horrible,  she  could  [not  con- 
template it. 

Before  she  could  answer,  however,  another 
girl  glided  to  her  side ;  one  as  fair,  though 
less  queenly,  and  the  second  daughter  of 
Warburton.  Sisters  they  were,  and  only 
separated  by  two  years  in  point  of  age,  but 
while  Augusta  was  a  woman  and  a  queen  in 
seeming,  Vida,  at  seventeen,  unlike  the 
average  Southern  girl,  seemed  still  a  child. 

"  There  is  my  hand,  Sam,"  Vida  earnestly 
said,  "  for  I  am  with  you  for  the  Union. 
Augusta  may  secede  if  she  will,  but  you  and 
I  will  remain  loyal." 

A  half  smile  crossed  her  face  at  the  end, 
showing  that  she  did  not  fully  comprehend 
the  seriousness  of  the  national  crisis,  but 
Carrington  was  all  in  earnest,  as  he  added : 

"We  will,  to  the  end." 

"  Girl,"  said  Augusta,  severely l"  how  dare 
you  speak  such  words?  You,  a  Warburton, 
and  to  raise  your  voice  against  your  native 
State.    For  shame!" 

Before  more  could  be  said  a  call  sounded 
froiri  the  town  |and  they  looked  to  see  two 
men  who  had  approached  unseen.  One  was 
on  horseback,  and  a  handsome  young  fellow 
he  was.  A  trifle  younger  than  Sam,  he  had 
the  dark  complexion  of  a  Southerner,  but  in 
his  face  was  a  frankness,  honesty  and  earn- 
estness which  bespoke  a  man  who  would  do 
no  mean  act  and  who  had  an  indomitable 
will  to  carry  out  a  settled  purpose. 

He  was  the  son  of  a  neighboring  planter, 
and  was  named  Alfred  Penrock. 

His  companion  was  less  attractive.  A  man 
of  middle  age,  stoutly  built  and  ill-clad,  his 
exterior  went  to  pronounce  him  a  poor 
white,  even  as  his  face  stamped  him  a  man 
of  low  and  vicious  ways,  if  not  a  villain. 
Bronzed  by  sun  and  rain,  strong  drink  had 
given  even  a  deeper  hue  to  his  nose  and 
cheeks ;  his  hair  and  beard  were  long  and 
unkempt,  and  one  searohiiig  for  tui  iUnstra- 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


tion  of  a  hang-doR  rascal  would  uot  be  apt 
to  pass  by  Jacob  Shelley. 

He  stood  beside  the  horse,  lookiuglstraight 
at  Sam  Carriiigtou,  and  scowling  blackly, 
while  at  the  sight  even  the  latters  face 
clouded. 

A  year  before  Shelley  had  been  Warbur- 
ton's  overseer,  but  a  number  of  small  ras- 
calities had  been  brought  to  his  master's 
notice  b>  Carriugton.  ami  since  tlien  he  had 
not  been  allowed  on  the  plantiition. 

Vidalo<iki-il  snrpiisiil  iiiiil  a  little  alarmed 
at  seeing  liini,  In  it  in-  ,<(...  h  I  IhjI.IIv,  even  de- 
fiantly, and  -lill  ^-l:llva  ;lt  ( ';,  rii  IlitOU. 

"Hull..,,.  Sain!  >ai,i  \Ui,,i  IVnrock," 
"come  li.ii'  anil  gi\.-  fLi.-  a  lift.  I  have 
sprained  an  ankl.\  an, I  i.nly  lui'  .Shelley'said 
I  might  lia\  .■  >l.  |.t  in  III.'  swamp   to-night." 

'I'll.'  iinm  a. Ml  ,■>-.. I  forgot  all  else,  and 
w.iii  <|iii,  kly  t..  I'.nii.ck.  Bosom  friends 
Thf  two  lia.l  i.tnai,  anil  cither  one  would  I'isk 


oueiie^    *viiLeiie^a  iii  it  sujiv   waj.,  uui,  tuuu^u 

the  horse  was  his,  he  still  lingered.  Penrock 
chanced  to  see  him,  and  started  up  from  his 
seat,  only  to  fall  back  and  wince  from  pain. 

"  I  had  forgotten  his  reward,"  he  said. 
"Come  here,  my  man,  and  name  your 
price." 

•'Make  it  what  you  will,"  said  the  ex-over- 
seer, touching  his  misshapen  hat,  in  an  at- 
tejiipt  at  politeness,  "I  reckon  we  shall  all 
bo  iliawiu'  good  pay  soon,  an'  then  I  hope 
ter  fuller  you  two  men  in  battle." 


[  but  there  was  an  additional  surliness  on  his 
!  face. 

Alfred  had  skilfully  dismissed  him,  but  he 
would  much  rather  have  remained  to  use  his 
ears. 

He  mounted  his  ungainly  horse  and  rode 
away  west,  but  at  the  first  turn  swung 
around  to  the  left  and  pushed  »u  toward  the 


The 


"The  old  story!"  muttered  Carrington, 
gloomily.    "  You  are  all  mad  for  war." 

"We  are  wild  with  exultation  to  gain 
secure  the  liberty  won  for  us  by  the  men  of 
'76,"  Penrock  said,  his  line  face  lighting  with 
a  glow   of   enthusiasm.     "  Ah !    there  will 


by  side  with  those  of  Washington,  Marion 
and  Greene." 

"  Mr.  Carrington's  will  be  thar,  o"  course," 
said  the  ex-overseer,  with  a  strange  look  on 
his  ill-favored  face. 

"  Certainly  it  will  be  there,  and  I  know  of 
no  man  more  fitted  to  lead  the  Virginians  in 
the  grand  attempt." 

But  no  answering  gleam  came  to  Sam  Car- 
rington's face.  Grave  even  to  sternness,  his 
look  was  one  which  surprised  Penrock. 

"If  Virginians  follow  my  lead,"  hesteadily 
said,  "it  will  be  to  uphold  the  old  flag  and 
an  undivided  union  of  states." 

The  younger  man  sat  aghast.  Of  all  things 
he  had  least  expected  to  hear  such  a  decla- 
ration. In  the  years  that  were  passed  peo- 
ple had  called  his  friend  Mad  Sam,  and  when 
they  saw  a  horse  going  over  a  fence  they  be- 
lieved no  one  could  leap,  Sam's  coat-tails 
were  sure  to  be  found  floating  behind.  His 
wild  gallops  across  country  had  been  the 
talk  of  the  whole  neighborhood ;  and  as  he 


dashing  soldier  he  would  make,  go,  it  was  no 
wonder  he  was  astonished. 

But,  while  he  looked  amazed,  a  gleam  of 
triumph  and  malignant  hate  crept  into 
Shelley's  face  which  pictured  his  heart.  He 
was  longing  for  a  chance  to  pay  oft  the  old 
score. 

Then  Penrock  recovered  his  tongue,  and  a 
long  discussion  followed.  He  was  at  first 
inclined  to  make  light  of  Sara's  assertion, 
but  when  he  saw  that  he  was  in  full  earnest 
his  way  changed  to  pleading.  He  was  him- 
self heart  ana  soul  with  the  new  cause,  and 
loving  his  friend  like  a  brother,  his  words 
(vere  like  eutting  knives. 

"  This  is  the  result  of  an  education  at  the 
North,"  Augusta  finally  broke  in,  passion- 
itely.  "I  remember  that  when  you  went 
iway  my  fathersaid  to  yours :  '  No  good  will 
jome  of  it.  Beware,  lest  the  bov  draw  poison 
from  Northern  milk.'  Were  not  the  words 
prophetic?  Sam  Carrington  went  to  the 
Northern  college,  and  then  to  Europe ;  now 
le  has  come  back  to  us  to  turn  his  back  on 
lis  own  people." 

"  But  not  on  the  Union,"  Vida  added. 

While  Augusta  had  been  speaking,  Pen- 
rock had  chanced  to  look  at  Shelley,  and  the 
axpression  on  the  fellow's  face  alarmed  him. 
He  saw  there  the  reflection  of  the  bitter  en- 
mity he  knew  the  man  felt  toward  Sam,  and 
he  hastily  held  out  his  hand. 

"1  had  forgotten  you  again,"  he  said. 
'  Excuse  me  for  detaining  you,  for  I  remem- 
ber yon  said  you  were  in  haste.    Here  is  a 


do  the  latter,  an'  it  won't  lie  very  hard  ter 
get  up  an  excitement  against  him  which  will 
eeud  his  lite.  Ha,  ha  !  he  stirred  up  a  tiger 
when  he  robbed  me  o'  my  job." 

By  that  time  tlie  quartet  he  had  left  had 
entirely  forgotten  his  existence  in  their  ear- 
nest discussfon. 

Augusta— but,  of  her,  more  anon. 

Penrock  was  deeply  pained  and  amazed. 
Sam  had  never  been  inclined  to  talk  of  the 
national  troubles,  and  for  politics  he  had  the 
utmost  contempt;  but  his  friend  had  never 
suspected  that  he  would  be  lukewarm  when 
trouble  came.  Less  than  an  hour  before,  he 
had  been  thinking  what  a  noble  leader  he 
would  make  for  some  Virginian  regiment. 

Brave,  dashing,  magnetic,  a  fine  swords- 
man, marksman  and  rider;  such  men  were 
sure  to  go  to  the  front  in  the  struggle. 

But  an  hour  seemed  to  have  suddenly  aged 
the  man  in  question. 

Since  he  had  heard  the  news  his  gay  laugh 
had  not  once  sounded,  and  across  his  manly 
face  the  old  smile  had  evidently  forgotten 
how  to  play. 

He  saw  with  the  prophetic  eye  of  an  intel- 
ligent man,  what  must  follow  if  war  came, 
for  war  is  always  dreadful. 

Devastated  fields  and  broken  homes,  un- 
timely graves  and  ruiued  names.  Sam  Car- 
rington shuddered  aud  failed  to  catch  the 
enthusiasm  of  his  friend. 

And  when  he  rode  away,  it  was  in  a  fash- 
ion far  diflerent  from  his  old  dash  and  gay- 
ety.  Twilight  was  falUng,  but  he  went  on 
with  loosened  rein,  and  rode  unheeding  past 
gloomy  swamps  where  desperate  fugitive 
slaves  had  lairs,  and  but  too  often  had  done 
deeds  of  violence. 

"You  must  side  with  one  of  the  hostile 
parties,"  Alfred  Penrock  had  said  to  him. 
' '  There  is  no  middle  course. ' ' 

He  knew  it  was  true,  aud  the  knowledge 
brought  the  fiercest  pang  of  his  life. 

And  at  the  same  moment  Augusta  War- 
burton  was  in  her  chamber,  her  face  full  of 
pain,  her  hand  nervously  working  in  the 
folds  of  her  dress. 

"  What  will  come  of  it?"  she  was  murmur- 
ing. "  He  is  brave,  noble,  but  mad.  Can  his 
views  be  changed?  If  not,  God  help  us  all ; 
for  I  love  him  better  than  my  own  Ufel" 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE   CABIN   AND    THE   SPY. 

A  week  passed  slowly  by,  a  week  which 
"'      "  )r   Southern,  who 

11  long  remember. 
Fort  Sumter  had  fallen.  Major  Anderson's 
handful  of  men  had  succumbed  to  the  su- 
periority of  numbers  and  surrendered  to 
General  Beauregard. 

The  event  was  like  a  match  in  dry  fuel, 
and  its  effects  were  felt  from  the  eastern 
boundary  of  the  country  to  the  Pacific.  Men 
began  to  see  that  trouble  could  not  be  avert- 
ed, and  the  seething  volcano  rocked  all  the 

C  vll  was  was  at  hand,  and  the  end  no  man 
could  see. 

During  the  week,  Samuel  Carrington  had 
been  seen  but  little  abroad.  He  kept  for  the 
most  part  within  his  own  house,  and  as  he 
looked  from  the  door  and  saw  the  broad 
fields  around  him,  he  felt  none  of  the  old  re- 
gret that  he  was  the  last  of  his  family. 

It  war  came,  there  would  be  no  aged  moth- 
er or  father,  and  no  delicate  sister  to  endure 
its  terrors. 

As  for  himself ,  he  had  no  fear.    His  arm 
strong,  his   heart  stouter  ye 
Id  meet  the  inevitable  bravely 

Alfred  Penrock  visited  him  every  day. 
They  had  long  talks,  but  neither  would 
change  his  views.  Each  believed  himself 
ri^ht,  and  was  fixed  in  his  opinions.  Despite 
this,  they  always  talked  in  kindness.  Old 
friends  and  noble  by  nature,  they  might  dif- 
fer, but  they  would  never  quarrel. 

Pain  they  might  and  did  feel  at  the  situa- 
tion, but  the  clasp  of  their  strong  hands  was 
as  warm  as  ever  m  the  past. 


Penrock  laid  all  the  blame  to  the  Connecti- 
cut college  where  Sam  had  been  educated. 
Pour  years  there  had  wrought  all  the  mis- 
chief he  believed  he  saw ;  but,  in  time,  his 
friend's  eyes  might  be  opened. 

Twice,  Augusta  Warburtou  rode  over  with 
him.  Proud  and  cold  as  people  called  her, 
she  loved  Sam  Carrington  devotedly,  and 
was  bent  on  saving  him,  as  she  regarded  it. 

11. Miiiist  uot  be  lost  to  Virginia  and  the 
cans.-  .xln-  upheld. 

( in.-.lav,  .'^am  mounted  hi^  black  horse  aud 
s.{  ,.ii(  in  an  ,  a.-ilcily  .liiv.l  i.  .n.  He  had  a 
lix.'.i  |.iii|..,-.'  ill  •vi.\\,aiiil  u  as  anxious  to 
ani\  .•  at  hi.-  il.slilial  i,  .ii.  -, .,  as  In.  galloped 
.il.in.i;   at  a  ......I    (.a.-.',    a    ,1,-ico  ..t  his  old 

His  Hue  form  and  face,  his  long,  black  and 
curling  hair,  hi.s  dark  eyes  and  heavy  mus- 
tache were  calculated  to  attract  unusual  at- 
tention, aud  a  friendly  planter  nodded  as  lu: 
passed,  and  then  smiled  slightly.  ., 

"He  will  never  change  to  any  great  de- 
gree. True,  he  is  no  longer  the  wild  youth 
we  called  'Mad  Sam,'  but  I    expect  to  sea 


Southern  army 

But  "  Mad  Sam  "  went  steadily  on  until  he 
neared  the  border  of  an  e.xtensive  swamp. 
It  was  not  a  place  of  good  repute.  OuV 
laws,  white  and  black,  were  known  to  lurk 
in  its  depths,  defring  pursuit,  Imt  the 
swamp  was  wid...  a'mi  (her.,  was  room  for 
other  menbesi.l.-tli.  III.  ilnnlcrs  w  cio  there 
who  lived  hoii.'sli\,  .in. I  Hacked  their  game 
under  the  sil.'Ut  pines  ..r  the  bunchy  cy- 
presses ;  and  to  one  of  these  he  was  going. 

Amaziah  Strout  was  the  name  of  the  man 
he  sought— or,  as  he  was  frequently  called, 
'"Ziah  of  the  Swamp."  A  still  hunter  by 
nature  and  trade,  he  was  an  old  friend  of 
the  rich  planter.  Dissimilar  in  all  things 
except  in  honesty  and  bravery,  there  was  a 
strong  bond  between  them. 

From  the  time  when  Sam  was  twelve  years 
of  age  he  had  been  a  frequent  visitor  at 
'Ziah's  cabin.  From  him  he  had  received 
lessons  in  rifle  shooting,  in  hunting  and  in 
trailing. 

Together  they  had  slow-tracked  many  a 
quarry  to  its  death.  In  the  low  cabin  the 
boy  had  listened  to  scores  of  hunters' 
"yarns,"  and  under  the  pines  they  had 
walked,  eaten  and  slept  side  by  side. 

To  this  man  Sam  was  now  going,  and 
when  the  way  became  low  and  treacherous, 
he  dismounted,  secured  his  horse  to  a  sap- 
ling; and,  taking  his  rifle,  went  on  alone. 
Over  knoll  and  hollow,  across  the  refuse  of 
the  pines  and  over  low  places  where  only 
the  fallen  trees  aud  occasional  hummocks 
saved  him  from  the  treacherous  mud — by 
this  course  he  went  to  the  hunter's  cabin. 

A  last  he  reached  a  higher,  dryer  region. 

Pines  became  the  only  tree  visible,  aud  to 
one  who  loves  silence  and  soUtude  there  is  no 
place  more  agreeable. 

The  soft  carpet  of  refuse  under  foot,  the 
straight,  smooth  trunks,  and  the  thick,  in- 
terlaced tops  of  the  trees— it  is  as  though 
one  was  in  a  labyrinth  of  variegated 
velvets. 

At  last  the  planter  paused,  for  he  had 
come  upon  an  interesting  picture. 

Between  two  great  trees  nestled  a  little 
cabin  some  twelve  feet  square,  and  humbly 
made  of  pine  branches,  poles  and  mud.  Be- 
fore the  cabin  sat  a  single  man,  its  owner, 
'Ziah  of  the  Swamp. 

He  was  fifty  years  of  age,  tall  and  thin, 
even  to  a  degree  painful  to  behold,  but  one 
glance  at  his  bronzed  face,  clear  eyes  and 
muscular  form  would  show  that  it  was  from 
nature,  not  disease.  He  was  not  a  hand- 
some man.  Ou  the  contrary,  he  was  home- 
ly, with  his  thin  face,  high  cheek-bones,  huge 
nose  aud  wide  mouth,  and  the  sparse  beard 
on  his  face  only  served  to  add  a  ragged  look 
to  the  whole. 

Yet,  the  face  was  full  of  honesty,  good 
humor,  frankness  and  firmness.  The  deep- 
set  eyes  were  overhung  by  huge  tufts  of  hair 
growing  from  the  brows,  but  behind  the 
curtain  tfius  made  they  beamed  with  candor, 
though  not  without  a  latent  Are. 

One  minute  Sam  looked,  a  smile  on  his 
face,  and  then  strode  forward.  Little  sound 
his  feet  made  on  the  fragments  of  pine,  yet 
the  hunter  looked  up  quickly. 

"Halloo,     'Ziah!"     the    visitor     genially 


said. 

Then 
trap 


up    sprung   the    man    of   rifle    and 


thing  for  men  ter  prowl  fircfiDd  my 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


cabin.    Some  day  I'll  get  eloped  with  like  a 

Eooty  girl.  Lord!  wouldn't  I  make  a 
loomin'  bride!"  . 

They  shook  hands  warmly,  and  a  comical 
amile  played  around  the  ragged  face  of  the 
hunter.  .,    ...^ 

"  I  reckon  you  could  show  sharp  nails  if  it 
came  to  that,  '  laughed  Carrington. 

"  I  should  faint.  Women  always  do.  Had 
a  sister  once  who  took  tofaiutiu'  on  her  mar- 
riage day,  an'  went  from  cue  catechism  ter 
another  right  through.  When  the  miuute 
came  fur  her  to  be  spliced,  they  tied  her  to 
a  tree  an' hung  a  weight  ou  her  under  jaw 
ter  make  her  mouth  open  an'  say  'yes.' 
Gettin'  married  is  serious  business,  you 
know,  Sam." 

"  I  should  say  so— in  your  family. 

"  Thar  is-  a  current  o'  tragedy  'mongst  us. 
My  brother  had  eleven  different  gals  propose 
ter  him  afore  he  would  consent.  Arterhe 
he  said  he'd  have  Maria  Stubbs,  I  felt 
that  the  family  honor  was  atstake;  he  innst 
keep  the  contract  or  leave  the  business.  I 
watched  him  night  an'  day,  an' when  he 
finally  tried  to  run  off,  I  had  him  'rested  fur 
stealin  ray  rifle.  It  took  fourteen  men  ter 
capture  him,  and  he  frothed  at  the  mouth 
fur  a  week.  He  was  so  wrought  up  that  he 
took  the  ague,  an'  shook  off  his  weddiu 
clothes  as  fast  as  we  put  them  on.  We  car- 
ried him  ter  the  alUr  wrapped  round  an 
round  with  ropes,  an'  when  we  got  thar 
found  that  the  bride  elect  had  eloped  with 
another  man.  She  left  a  note-of-hand,  say- 
in' she  hoped  Seth  would  forgive  her;  an' 
he  did  it,  too,  easy.  Lord!  you  oughter 
seen  him  gain  flesh  arter  that." 

Carrington  waited  patiently  for  'Ziah  to 
talk  himself  out  of  breath,  answered  by  a 
few  appropriate  remarks,  and  then  added : 

"  How  goes  matters  in  the  swamp  ?" 

•'Pooty  fair,  fur  the  kind." 

"You  intimated  that  some  one  had  been 
prowling  around  your  cabin.    Who  was  it'/" 

"A  two-legged  critter  o' some  sort;  ain't 
got  his  pedigree.  He  nosed  'round  here  last 
night,  an'  though  he  found  the  old  man 
awake,  slipped  away  when  I  tried  ter  drop 
on  him.  Can't  say  who  'twas,  but  I  more'n 
half  suspect  'twas  your  friend,  Jake  Shel- 

"  Why  was  he  here?"  asked  Sam,  frown- 
ing 


CHAPTER  IV. 

'ZIAH    FREES   HIS   MINU. 

Sam  Carrington  and  his  swamp  friend 
talked  earnestly  for  some  time.  Mucli  was 
said  whiehthey  would  not  wish  a  third  party 
to  hear.  With  them  there  was  no  doubt — 
they  were  for  the  Union,  first,  last,  aud  al- 
ways, and  when  the  crisis  came  they  would 
enroll  their  names  under  the  folds  of  the  old 
flag. 

While  they  talked,  Jake  Shelley  listened. 
He  could  not  hear  all  they  said,  but  he  heard 
too  ra  uch  for  their  good. 

His  small  and  furtive  eyes  fairly  sparkled, 
and  he  looked  almost  fleudish  in  his  exulta- 

"  Revenge  shall  be  mine!"  he  darkly 
thought.  "In  a  few  days  all  will  be  bustle 
and  confusion  in  the  Shenandoah,  and  when 
that  time  comes,  every  man  must  join  us  or 
fall  under  the  ban.  Sam  Carrington  will 
not  join,  and  then  a  few  words  spoken  will 
launch  upon  him  a  power  he  cannot  defy. 
Aha!  rob  me  of  my  bread,  will  you,  you  ac- 
cursed hound!" 

At  the  close,  the  fellow  desir«l  to  shake 
his  fist  like  a  villaiu  in  a  play,  but  he  knew 
he  was  iu  rather  risky  company,  for  him, 
and  he  refrained. 

'Ziah,  however,  had  used  his  eyes  to  good 
advantage  while  they  talked;  and,  without 
saying  a  word  to  Sara,  he  suddenly  arose, 
and  with  two  long  bounds  launched  himself 
into  the  pine  thicket. 

The  plauter  was  taken  by  surprise,  but  the 
tremendous  crashing  which  instantly  souiul- 
ed  from  the  bushes,  showed  that  'Ziah  had 
found  some  sort  of  au  enemy. 

Sam  started  to  his  assistance,  but  at  that 
moment  he  emerged  from  cover,  dragging  a 


man  after  him,  a  person  Sam  quickly  recog- 
lielley. 
The  fellow  had  struggled  long  enough  to 


nized  as  Jake  She 


"Can't  say.  Mebbe  I'll  find  out  one  o' 
these  days.  Why  didn't  Warburton  send 
him  to  prison  when  you  showed  up  his 
record?  Seoh  men  are  useful  only  when 
workin'  behind  bars." 
"Jake  is  a  thorough  ruffian,  as  you  say. 
"  But,'Ziah,  I  came  to-day  on  business.  Ton 
have,  of  course,  heard  the  news?" 

"  The   eoho  has    drifted   even    inter    the 
swamp.     Powder    has   bin    burnt  an'    lead 
wasted.    The  old  flag  has  been  used  fur  a 
target,  an'  the  war  bosses  are  bein'  curried ; 
old    bayonets   are   bein'   polished    an'   new 
ones  made.    Tas,  I've  heerd  the  news. 
"  There  is  going  to  be  war,  'Ziah." 
"  I  reckon  thar  is,  Sam." 
"The   two   men  looked    fixedly  at   eac^h 
other,  as  free  in  their  way  as  iu  their  speech. 
The  swamp  man  had  always  called  Car- 
rington by  his  Christian  name,  as  did  every 
one  else,  and  pride  and  pomp  never  came 
between  them. 

"We  spoke  of   this  the  other  day,    con- 
tinued the  planter.  . 
"  Have  your  views  changed  since  then  / 
"Notaninch,nora  fraction  thereof. ' ' 
"Then  we  have  stormy  times  ahead  of  us. 
Union  men   are   scarce   along   the  Shenan- 
doah, and  mischief  may  come  to  the  few 
who  do  live  here." 
'Ziah  sighed  heavily.  . 
"  Idou't  keerin  cue  way;  but  in  another  I 
do.    War  will  drive  me  from  the  swamp — 
&y,  it  may  even  fill  these  tree-paths  with 
men  an'  weapons.    I  hate  sorely  to  turn  my 
back  on  the  pines ;  but  if  war  comes,  why, 
then,  'Ziah  o'  the  Swamp  will  develop  inter 
'Ziah  o'  the  knapsack  an'  Union  blue." 

"The  way  may  not  be  open  for  us  to  join 
the  Unionists." 

"Then  we'll  fight  our  way;  fur  to  the 
old  flag  we  must  go.  Lord!  we  can't  live 
under  any  otner  banner." 

'Ziah  smote  his  knee,  and  spoke  with  un- 
usual fervor— in  fact,  with  far  raore  em- 
phasis than  he  would  have  used  had  he  been 
aware  that,  while  they  talked,  a  pair  of 
gleaming  eyes  were  watching  them  from  a 
pine  thicket  not  far  away. 

And  in  that  cover  a  man  was  lying  at  full 
length,  his  rifle  by  liis  side  and  bis  face  full 
of  evil  expressions. 

If  the  devil  is  always  near  when  talked 
about,  so  it  was  with  the  ambushed  man, 
for  he  was  noue  other  than  the  ex-overseer 
J«MOb  SbeUey. 


convince  him  that  he  was  no  match  for  the 
swamp  raun,  and  when  ho  was  brought  (mt 
into  public,  he  crouched  sullenly  on  the 
ground,  and  made  no  move. 

"Tolcyou  90,  Sam,"  said 'Ziah,  placidly. 
"Same  chap  that  sneaked  round  hyer  last 
night,  I'll  bet  a  picayune.  Curious  lookiu' 
critter,  ain't  he?  What  would  you  call  him  ? 
I'm  no  beauty  myself,  but  I  reckon  I  kin 
discount  Jake  Shelley." 

The  speaker  picked  up  his  rifle,  and,  lean- 
ing his  weight  upon  it,  looked  down  on  his 
vagabond  captive  iu  a  benevolent  way. 

"what  was  ho  doing  here?"  Sam  sharply 
asked. 

"Spyiu',o'  course.  What  else  is  he  good 
fur  ?  Couldn't  make  a  preacher  or  a  lawyer 
on  him,  though  'f  his  legs  were  better 
shaped  he  might  pass  for  a  hedgehog.  Yes, 
he  was  spyin',  an  mighty  poor  business  it  is, 
too.  Kuowed  a  man  onct  who  had  the  same 
complaint,  an'  had  it  bad,  too.  Kept  him 
stirred  up  au'  excited  all  the  time,  so  that  he 
lost  flesh  on  the  ^Uop.  Where  did  it  end  1 
On  the  gallows.  Had  an  attact  o'  curiosity 
jest  afore  soraebody  was  ter  be  hung,  an'  put 
his  own  neck  iu  the  noose.  Result,  two 
funerals  instead  o'  one.  Look  out,  Jake 
Shelley,  or  you'll  hit  agin'  the  same  snag." 

'Ziah  shook  oue  finger  warningly  at  the 
ex-ovcrseer,  but  Carrington  was  less  at  ease. 
He  remembered  what  they  had  said,  and 
feared  that  Shelley  had  heard  too  much.  He 
addressed  the  fellow  sharply : 

"What  are  you  doing  here,  sir?" 

"  Answer  yer  own  question  by  tellin'  why 
you  are  hyer,"  was  the  rather  ambiguous 
reply.  "I  reckon  the  swamp  is  free  to  all. 
Leastwise,  et  are  ter  me,  I  come  au'  go 
when  I  see  fit,  an'  it  is  nobody's  business." 

"  People  are  liable  to  make  it  their  busi- 
ness when  you  play  the  spy  upon  them,"  re- 
torted Carrington.  "  I  suspect  that  you  fol- 
lowed me  here.  If  so,  what  was  your  ob- 
ject?" 

"  I  hev  followed  nobody,"  said  Shelley, 
with  due  prudence.  "  I  walk  the  swamp, 
same  as 'Ziah  does.  Ain't  et  our  right?  An' 
ef  I  hear  v'ices  in  the  bushes,  can't  I  look 
fur  who  speaks,  'thout  bein'  pounced  on 
by  a " 

He  paused  and  looked  doubtfully  at  'Ziah. 

"Speak  it  out,"  said   the  latter,  encourag- 
1  ingly. 
I      "I  don't  think  I  am  wal  used,"  muttered 

Shelley. 
!      "  Maybe  a  hickory  switch  would  quicken 
your  ideas." 

"Maybe not,"  quickly  answered  the  pris- 
looking  at  Sam   with  evil  eyes.     "  I'm 
!e'ble  man,  but  I  kin  do  a  little  work 
nan  steps  on  me  rough." 
"  No  use  to  talk  to  him,"  said  'Ziah,  crossly. 

'  No  use  ter  squeeze  a  dry  sponge.  Long  an' 
ihort  ou't  is,  thesneakin   varmint  was  spyin' 


him.    Shoot,   whip,   or  go   free ;  all  one  ter 
me." 

chew  of  to- 


as  he  says,  the  swamp  is  free  to 
him  go,  and  the  sooner  the  better." 

"That settles  it.  Only  take  yourself  off, 
Jake,  au'  we  will  be  happy.  But,  mind  you,  ' 
I  don't  want  you  sneakm'  round  my  cabin;  1 
call  open  ef  you  come  at  all.  Sometimes  I  - 
set  traps  iu  pine  thickets  an'  dig  pits  in  the 
open.    Look  outfur  them,  Jake." 

"Don't  worry  about  me,"  was  the  surly 
answer. 

"  Worry  ?  Lord !  I  wouldn't  worry  ef  you 
was  goin'  down  in  a  bog.  Should  consider 
et  a  beuefit  ter  the  country.  You  see,  Jake, 
1  don't  like  you  nor  your  way.  Your  face 
ain't  open  or  manly,  no  more  nor  your  wa>' 
is.   Should  say  you  were  born  forthe  halter." 

"Go  slow,  you  lank,  lantern-jawed  fool," 
Shelley  cried,  in  sudden  fury. 

"Slowet  is;  slow  an'  easy,  this  time,  but 
dou't  come  again.  Keep  your  distance,  an' 
let  i  t  be  a  long  one.    Do  1  see  you  goin'  ?" 

'Ziah's  voice  was  growing  ominous,  and 
the  ex-overseer  did  not  care  to  make  further 
words  with  him.  He  knew  both  men  and 
their  mettle,  and,  though  full  of  auger  and 
spite,  did  not  care  to  tempt  them  further. 
He  glanced  blackly  from  one  to  the  other 
and  then  promptly  strode  away  through  the 
pines. 

"Thar  goes  a  p'ison  snake,"  commented 
the  hunter.  "  Sech  varmints  as  ho  uin'tsafe 
nowhar.    Can't  be  trusted  by  foe  or  friend." 

"  Do  you  suppose  he  heard  me  talking?" 
Sam  asked. 

"  Reckon  he  did." 

"What  will  he  do  aoout  it?" 

"Mebbe  little,  mebbe  much.  He  has  the 
will  ter  ruin  us." 

"Y'ouare  right.  He  hat«s  me  because  I 
unmasked  him  to  Warburton  and  he  there- 
by lost  his  situation,  and  it  is  plain  he  hag  no 
lore  for  you.  But,  'Ziah,  we  are  liable  to 
soon  have  a  tempest  howling  around  our 
ears  if  we  stand  firm  for  the  Union.  Even 
our  old  neighbors  and  friends  will  turn 
against  us,  for  war  arouses  all  of  men's  evil 

{lassious.  It  would  suit  Jake  Shelley  well  to 
ead  a  mob  against  us." 

"Let  him  do  et  ef  he  dar's,"  said  "Ziah, 
impressively.  "  Ef  I  see  a  p'ison  snake  nigh 
my  cabUi  I  crush  out  Its  life.  Two-legged 
snake  though  Jake  is,  he  don't  want  to  tempt 
me  too  fur.  The  Strouts  are  a  peac'ble 
fam'ly,  but  when  their  mad  is  up  they  are 
IS.  Kf  I  set  down  on  Jake  he  will 
mething  has  happened." 
That  is  all  well  enough,  but  the  fact  re- 
mains that  we  are  in  a  decided  minority. 
Nearly  all  of  Virginia  is  going  to  secede  if  it 
comes  to  that.  We  may  yet  have  to  flee  fast 
aud  far  for  our  lives." 

"  I  reckon  we  will,  Sam  ;  I  reckon  we  will," 
was  the  gloomy  answer.  "Things  look 
mighty  dubious  just  now." 

Satisfied  that  Shelley  had  taken  himself 
well  out  of  sight  and  hearing,  Sam  remained 
with  his  swamp  friend  for  an  hour  longer. 
They  had  much  to  say,  but  they  spoke 
mostly  of  the  future.  It  fairly  bristled  with 
doubts  and  perils.  Perhaps  death  lurked 
not  far  away,  and  with  the  wind  sighing 
softly  through  the  grand  old  jines  it  was 
hard  to  think  that  Virginia's  soil  might  Booa 
be  the  battle-ground  for  hostile  armies. 

Truly,  they  had  cause  to  feel  gloomy. 


t^ui\ 


From  the  day  when  the  first  gun  was  flred 
ou  Fort  Sumter,  the  work  of  separation  pro- 
gressed as  rapidly  as  was  possible,  but  there 
was  much  to  yet  be  done;  and,  confining  our- 
selves to  the  history  of  Virginia,  it  was  not 
until  the  twenty-fourth  of  April  that  any 
decisive  step  was  taken. 

Local  meetings  had  been  held  which  had  - 
practic-ally  settled  the  question,  but  when,  t 
on  the  date  before  given  the  vice-president  ' 
elect  of  the  new  departure  met  the  leading  J 
men  of  the  Old  Dominion  at  Richmond,  the  ' 
cause  took  a  long  step  forward.    Measures 
were  taken  to  submit  to  thepeople a  propo- 
sition to  join  the  Southern  Confederacy,  the 
question  to  be  settled  at  the  polls;  aud  again 
the  whole  country  thrilled. 

Ample  time  was  given  the  people  to  reflect; 
ample  time  to  persuade  the  wavering  when 
they  could  be  persuaded.  Many  there  were 
who  had  no  sympathy  whatever  with  the 
movement,  and  on  the  sixteenth  of  May  one 
of  the  Virginia  senators  come  to  the  front 
liy  declaring  that  those  who  could  not  vot« 
to  separate  Virginia  from  the 
leave  the  state. 


Union  ' 


THE  WA.R  LIBRARY. 


On  the  twenty -third  of  May  the  vote  was 
tuken  and,  not  inoludinR  Western  Virginia, 
wliioh  had  struck  out  tor  itself,  over  one 
liiindred  and  twenty-five  thousand  Totes 
were  east  for  secession  against  a  trifle  over 
twenty  thousand  against  it. 

The  deed  was  done,  the  die  oast,  and  now 
we  turn  to  see  what  effect  the  passage  of 
time  had  had  on  our  several  characters. 

Outwardly,  the  scene  had  not  changed 
materially.  'Ziah  Strout  remained  iu  the 
swamp  and  hunted  as  before,  but  when  he 
looked  at  the  whispering  pines,  it  was  with 
the  air  of  a  man  who  is  aDout  to  leave  his 
old  home.  He  knew  the  storm  was  about  to 
I  break,  and  when  it  came,  his  peaceful  lite 
'  would  end. 

I  Carrington  and  Penrock  were  still  at  their 
plantatious  ;  but  wliile  the  latter  was  work- 
ing for  tin-  new  luiisc  with  all  the  enthu- 
siasm or  liis  naliir.',  Sam  kept  mostly  in- 
doors, and  ^ic»-  ijldiiiiiv  and  depressed. 

Evei-y  cITu]  t  iiail  l.e.-n  made  to  win  him 
over  to  the  Seiis^iiai  movement.  Young 
though  he  was,  he  was  of  au  old  and  noble 
family,  and  such  men  were  desired  by  the 
powers-to-be.  The  foremost  politicians  of 
the  state  had  called  on  him ;  Alfred  Penrock 
had  used  every  eiideavi.r  ;  and  the  queenly 
Augusta,  leveliu';  her  iiiide  to  the  dust, 
had  implored  him  to  no  with  his  state. 

For  she  loved  this  ujan  with  all  the  ardor 
of  her  Southern  nature.  Cold  as  people 
thought  her,  it  was  but  the  crust  over  the 
warm  heart,  and  Sam  Carrington  was  her 
king.  For  him  to  bo  lost  to  the  cause  of  the 
South,  was,  iu  lier  sight,  for  the  Condederacy 
to  lose  one-half  its  brilliancy. 

Vain  attempt!  Sam  Carrington  could  not 
see  as  they  saw,  and  he  kept  away  from  all 
meetings,  and  grew  to  be  very  unlike  the 
old  Sam,  who  had  been  so  wild  and  dashing. 

And  iu  the  meanwhile,  Jacol)  Shelley  was 
not  idle.  He  had  been  sowing  seeds  ;  and 
what  fruit  they  bore  will  lie  seen  iu  the  fal- 
lowing -ihapter. 

CHAPTER  X. 

THE      FinST      PERIL. 

One  evening,  Sam  Carrington  was  seated 
alone  in  his  parlor  and  endeavoring  to  U.k 
his  attention  on  a  book  which  he  held  eoii- 
seieutiously  before  him,  but  the  l)Ook  was 
old,  and  his  mind  was  inclineil  to  wander. 
Outside,  the  wind  occasionally  swept  psist  iu 
a  gust,  wailing  as  it  went,  and  rain  washable 
to  fall  at  any  moment;  and  the  master  of 
the  house  had  imbibed  the  gloom  of  the 
night 

In  the  midst  ot  it  all  a  rap  smnidod  at  the 
door,  and  then  an  aiied  servant  Ihnist  in  his 
woolly  head  to  announ.i'  tliat  "  .Mas>a  War- 
burton's  boy,  Cleon,  liad  (lone  i(,me  to  de 
liouseiu  agreat  tluttei'  to  see  Massa  Sam." 

The  planter  aroused  in  a  moment.  A  lew 
minutes  witli  the  blaek  iujy  would  enliven 
him,  for  they  always  had  a  ivi<\u-  when  they 
met,  and  he  oi-tien-d  I'oinp  to  admit  him. 

Cleon  came  iu  promptly.  He  had  not 
(  hanged  greatly  since  Sam'luicl  eanglit  him 


the  plant 


Sam  suppressed  a  whistle,  and  promptly 
tore  open  the  wn-apper  and  then  unfolded 
the  sheet  he  took  from  within.  Writing 
was  on  it  in  a  flue,  feminine  hand,  but  there 
was  eveiy  evidence  that  it  had  been  hastily 
penned. 

Aud  this  was  what  he  read  : 


'  Mr.  Carrington  :■ 


tell  yoii 


been  doing  ull  in  h 
he  will  lead  a  bar 
himself— against  y 


life  II 


grew  frightened  at  the  look  on  the  planter's 
face. 

Sam  was  not  surprised.  For  weeks  he  had 
expected  trouble  ;  for  weeks  he  had  expect- 
ed Jake  Shelley  would  make  trouble  for 
him.  Every  region,  be  it  where  it  may,  has 
its  desperate  characters,  and  Shelley  had 
many  cronies  of  his  own  stamp.  He  was  a 
thorough  rascal,  and,  hating  Sam  Carring- 
ton as  he  did,  he  could  easily  bring  his  fol- 
lowers agaiust  him  and  commit  deeds  which 
would  make  the  Ijetter  classes,  stout  Seces- 
sionists though  they  were,  shudder  with 
horror. 

The  planter  silently  walked  to  a  cabinet, 
took  down  a  ]iair  of  heavy  revolvers  and  be- 
gan cxatniniii^;  tliein.  He  was  not  alarmed, 
nor  dill  he  inleiiil  to  <lesert  his  hom«.  Very 
soon  he  e.xiieeted  an  invitation  from  the 
Virginia  authorities  to  vacate  »he  state,  and 
then  he  would  go  quietly,  but  he  di<l  not  lu- 
tend  to  be  driven  away  by  a  hand  of  ruftiaus 
who  had  no  authority  for  their  acts  except 
their  own  low  passions  and  a  desire  for 
plunder. 

He  had  wholly  forgotten  Cleon,  but  the 
boy  came  and  laid  one  hand  on  his  arm. 

"Massa  Sam,"  he  earnestly  said,  "is  de 
Hessions  comin'  ?" 

"The  what?" 

"  The  Hessions." 

"Who are  they?" 

"Why,  Jake  Shelley  an'  dem  ones." 

"  Oil  [yes,  1  reckon  they  are  coming.  And, 
Cleon,  you  mu.st  get  back  homeassoonas 
possible.  Tell  Vida  I  thauk  her  kindly,  and 
that  I  will  some  day  repay  her  for  her— for 
what  she  has  done.  Go,  now,  old  boy,  at 
once." 

"  No!'  declared  Cleon.  "I  stay  hyer  an' 
fight.  I  know  Jake  Shelley  well  he  horse- 
whip me  onct.  Yesserday  I  liear  Massa  Mar- 
(ihisou  say  dat  he  not  hab  any  sech  hang- 
dog rascal  as  Jake  in  his  company.  Oh, 
Jake  is  a  bad  one,  an'  I'd  like  ter  butt  him 
onctiude  stummick.  Let  I  stay  an'  fight, 
Massa  Sam." 

The  l)oy  was  thoroughly  iu  earnest,  but  it 
was  an  idea  which  the  iilanter  could  not  con- 
sider. Cleon  was  tlje  iiroperty  of  Ml-.  War- 
burton,  and  on  the  plautatiou  of  that  gen- 
tleman he  belonged.  So  he  loudly  but 
firmly  told  the  boy   as   much,  and  he  went 

"Si)  .lake  Slielley  is  oil  the  warpath ! "  mutn 
tered  Cairingtoij.  "It  is  no  surprise  to  me, 
but  he  will  hud  me  no  tame  victim.  I  will 
send  a  man  to  the  village  to  notify  the 
authorities  of  this  movement  of  ruffians, 
aud  I  reckon  we  can  hold  the  place  until 
they  arrive." 

He  started  out,  but  returned  after  his 
sword,  thus  consuming  several  minutes,  and 
as  he  reached  the  outer  door  his  vision  was 
greeted  by  a  bright  glow  from  the  negro 

Dark  as  was  the  night  that  vicinity  was 
well  lighted,  for  three  of  the  caiiins  were  on 
lire,  and  the  bright  light  revealed  men  rush- 
ing about  in  confusion.  Worse  than  that, 
men  weie  fighting,  aud  the  scene  needed  no 

Shelley  and  his  gang  liad  arrived  on  the 
grounii,  they  had  fired  the  cabins,  and  now 
they  were  attacking  the  negroes  who  tried 
to  subdue  the  flames.  Shouts  began  to  arise 
on  the  air— the  alarm-cries  of  the  blacks  and 
the  answering  yells  of  the  ruffians;  and  a 
battle-fire  leaped  into  Sam  Carrington 's  eyes 
as  he  staj-ted  forward. 

The  rioters  should  feel  his  vengeance! 

Buttii?n,  up  arose  men  all  around  him, 
and  he  found  himself  surrounded  by  a  full 
dozen  with  Jake  Shelley  at  their  head. 


And  then  fn 
throats,  too  -s  lie  t 
and  epithets  \m 
gleametl  iu  tie  n- 


(lies  burst  from  their 
"■ .1  lied  here.     Oaths 

min;;led,  and  in.irder 
.  ..  All  ^yere  thorough 
lids,  and  men  who  had 
■  swamp  to  avoid  arrest. 

hated  s.ini  Cai  rington, 
ill  \\  ho  Welc  possessed  ot 

Now,  while  they  were 
hose  who  seemed  likely 
le,  tlie\  were  in  a  mood, 
up   by  Shelley,  to  mur- 


Sam  Carrington  rea' I  I '  i  i   e. 

He  was  not  surprised,  ,i.i  i  m  i  in  look 
which  came  to  his  face  shoued  that  he  was 
not  alarmed.  He  turui'd  abruptly  to  Cleon. 
"Where  did  you  get  this  note?" 
"Miss  Vida  gil)  it  to  me,  sah,  an'  tole  me 
ter  run  like  de  wind  an' gib  it  to  you  imme- 
jiate.  She  was  scaled  to  detl  an'  cryin'  Uke 
d  news." 
could  tell,  aud  he  soon 


night,  perhaps,  be 
but  it   was  more 

iven  because  of  the 
were  resolved  to 

ated  over  his  vic- 
a  cat  plays  with  a 
is  follower  precip- 
as  a  Uash,  a  report. 


movement,  with  hiswonderfulskill.'was  suf- 
ficient to  send  a  return  shot  which  was  fatal. 
The  would-be  assassin  fell  dead  in  his  tracks. 

A  terrible  howl  arose  from  the  ruffians. 
They  had  already  killed  three  negroes  by 
the  burning  cabins,  but  they  chose  fo  regard 
Sam's  act  as  the  beginning  of  hostilities. 
Two  or  three  other  shots  followed,  aud  they 
leaped  forward  in  a  body. 

Uhe  planter  held  a  revolver  in  each  baud 
and  fired  steadily.  Shelley  saved  his  miser- 
able head  only  bv  a  prompt  dodging,  but  his 
followers  did  not  tare  iis  well.  Their  yells 
of  pain  and  rage  sliow(,l  that  they  were  hit 
hard.  Still,  the  press  of  numbers  forced 
Sam  back  across  tlie  piazza  to  the  wall,  and 
when  he  endeavored  to  draw  his  sword  his 
arm  was  seized  by  strong  hands  and  held 
fast. 

Jake  Shelley  was  on  hand  for  the   final 

'cowardly  at  heart,  he  had  allowed  his 
men  to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  battle;  but 
when  victory  seemed  certain,  he  crept  for- 
ward, knife  in  hand,  ready  to  stab  the  man 
he  hated. 

It  was  a  critical  moment  in  the  life  of  the 
young  planter.  Death  was  very  near,  de- 
spite his  tremendous  struggles;  but  aid 
came  in  a  timely  and  sweeping  fashion. 

A  loud  and  angry  shout  sounded  behind 
the  ruffians,  and  then  Sam  saw  a  rifle  barrel 
sweep  tlirough  the  air. 

It  leveled  two  of  the  gang,  and  arose 
It  fell,  clearing  an  open  space,  and 


death. 

The  sight  gave  Sam  new  strength.  He 
shookjoli  his  nearest  foes,  leveled  Jake  Shel- 
ley by  a  tremendous  blow,  aud  then  stared 
in  amazemeut  as  arioter  went  oft'  the  piazza, 
impelled  by  a  blow  in  the  stomach  from  the 
head  ot  a  negro  boy. 

Cleon,  too,  was  on  the  field  of  battle. 

The  remaining  ruffians  deserted  the  piazza ; 
but  Sam  knew  the  lull  was  but  temporary. 
They  were  out  iu  full  force,  and  would  not 
yield  the  battle  tamely. 

"Inside,  aud  bar  the  door!"  he  cried  to 
'Ziah,  not  stopping  for  useless  words. 

As  he  spoke  he  opened  the  door,  but  sod- 


as he  recoiled  'Ziah  spoke  huiTiedly. 

"  Not  in  thar,  Sam,  not  in  thar.  The 
whole  ark  is  bleeziu'.  I  seed  the  red  light 
from  the  winders,  an'  that  is  wha^  brought 
me  hyer.  The  house  is  doomed,  sure  as 
p'izon,  an'  v. c  must  take  tertheswamp.  The 
red  ruhi  is  b.  liuii,  an'  only  Uight  can  saveus 
from  Jake  Slielleys  i;ang'" 

The  hunter  had'  (  orivetly  staled  tne  situa- 
tion. Some  one  inside  the  house  had  fired 
the  upper  floors  even  before  Sam  startetl 
out,  and  already  the  greedy  flames  had  a 
hold  which  no  fire  department  could  have 
subdued.  The  old  Carrington  mansion  must 
go  down. 

"Leff  we  uns  go,"  said  Cleon,  his  cyfs 
glowing  with  excitement-  ""We  can  skip 
'em  in  the  darkness." 

"  Home,  you  young  rascal!"  shouted  the 
planter.  "Once  more,  aud  for  the  last 
time,  I  tell  you  go  home!,' 

It  was  kindness  to  the  boy,  and  considera^_ 
tion  for  Warburton  that  prompted  the  com- 
mand, and  he  was  jileased  to  see  Cleon  leap 
from  the  piazza  antl  dart  away. 

The  fighting  blood  of  the  young  planter 
was  thoroughly  aroused,  however,  and  he 
had  no  intention  of  heeding  'Ziah's  advice. 
He  was  of  heroic  mold,  and  such  men  are 
slow  to  leave  their  ancestral  home  to  the 
ruffian  and  the  fire-fiend. 

His  slaves  still  remained,  and  with  them 
a  fight  must  be  inside. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

AN   EVENTFUL,  NIGHT. 


slipped  away. 

Up  the  steps  the  Shelley  gang  again  came, 
fairly  bristling  with  weapons,  and  it  looked 


though  their  moment  of  triumph  a 
hand. 

The  brave  pair  they  had  cornered  were  of 
a  different  opinion,  and  'Ziah's  heavy  brows 
came  down  lower  yet  over  his  eyes. 

"Sam,"  lie  said,  coolly,  "ef  wedon't  cut 
our  way  through  them  devils  they  will  hang 
us,  sure  as  sin.'' 

"Then  through  we  gol"  hissed  the 
planter,  convinced,  at  last,  that  their  only 
safety  lay  in  flight. 

He  drew  his  sword  as  he  spoke,  and  tie- 


6 


THE  WAR  LIBRARIC. 


ruffianly  gang,  who  had  expected  to  have 
the  charge  all  to  themselves,  was  amazed 
when  the  pair  dashed  forward  and  met  him 
half  way. 

'Ziah's  long  rifle  swept  around  his  head 
and  rattled  the  opposing  pieces  against  each 
other;  and  then  Sam  sprung  into  the  gap, 
and  his  sword  began  to  play,  ably  seconded 
by  the  hunter's  favorite  weapon. 

Sam  had  taken  his  first  lesson  in  sword- 
play  when  only  ten  years  of  age.  He  had 
followed  it  up  all  through  his  youth,  aud, 
when  in  Paris,  had  so  perfected  his  skill  that 
a  superior  did  not  exist  in  the  Old  Domin- 
ion. 

The  rioters  learned  this  fact  to  their  cost. 
The  supple  blade  mowed  a  red  swath  before 
it,  glided  under  their  clumsy  guards,  lung- 
ing here  and  there,  and  making  a  glittering 
wall  of  steel  which  seemed  like  a  solid 
wheel. 

Nor  was  'Ziah  less  effective.  His  gieat 
strength  enabled  him  to  use  his  rifle  as 
though  it  had  been  a  reed,  and  where  it  fell, 
broken  heads  were  likely  to  be  found  soon 
after. 

His  opponents  knew  him  well ;  they,  too, 
were  men  of  the  swamp,  the  gun,  and  the 
trap,  but  not  one  could  stand  alone  before 
Amaziah  Strout. 

Now,  it  looked  as  though  the  whole  gang 
were  not  enough  to  hold  their  ground. 

Jake  Shelley  fumed  and  spouted,  but  he 
was  shrewd  enough  to  keep  in  the  rear,  and 
though  anxiously  sought  by  the  defenders, 
he  was  not  within  reach. 

It  was  the  old  story  of  individual  prowess 
and  bravery  against  the  press  of  numbers, 
and,  suddenly,  the  rioters  broke  and  fled, 
Bhelley  falling  down  the  steps  in  his  anxiety 
to  lead  the  way,  but  quickly  recovering  him"- 
self,  and  showing  a  remarkable  celerity  in 
retreat. 

"Now's  our  time;  git/"  the  hunter  vigor- 
ously said. 

Sam  needed  no  urging.  He  caught  up  a 
rifle  dropped  by  a  dead  man,  tore  off  his 
powder-fla.'ik  and  bullet-pouch,  and  then  the 
two  brave  men  ran  down  the  steps,  turned 
sharply  to  the  right,  and  started  for  the 
nearest  wood. 

They  were  not  at  once  followed,  for  the 
Shelley  gang  wei'e  running  fast  and  far  in 
their  alarm,  and  the  fugitives  had  covered  a 
hundred  yards  before  the  fact  was  perceived 
by  the  enemy. 

"We  will  beat  them  now,  sure  as  sin," 
Strout  said,  in  a  tone  of  exultation.       i 

But  Sam  made  no  reply.  He  was  looking 
back  at  the  old  home,  the  house  where  he 
was  born,  and  the  sight  was  one  to  fill  him 
with  sorrow  and  bitterness.  Wrapped  en- 
tirely in  flames,  it  made  a  red  beacon  of  ter- 
rible import,  and  showed  that  speedy  ruin 
was  at  hand. 

And  the  negro  quarters,  too,  were  fleroely 
blazing,  making  it  evident  that  not  a  roof 
would  remain  for  the  touch  of  the  morning 

Honible  indeed  was  the  sight  to  the  young 
plaViter.  hut  he  set  his  teeth  and  followed 
'Ziah  in  ^ilenue. 

Niit  far  had  they  gone  wheu  a  chorus  of 
yells  in  tlic  rear  .showed  that  the  rioters  had 
disooverfd  tlit-ir  flight,  and  were  recovering 
their  wiiuiiin  ccnirage.  They  shouted  their 
rage  and  iMiinity,  aud  started  in  rapid  pur- 
suit; but  till'  Imnti'r  smiled  grimly.  He  had 
no  fear,  unless  lior.ses  were  brought  into  use. 

A  clear  mile  lay  between  them  and  the 
swamp  fur  which  they  were  heading,  but  it 
was  familiar  ground  to  both,  and  they  ran 
rapidly,  keeping  the  lead  they  had  at  first 
obtained. 

"  You  see,  Sam,  et  has  come  jest  as  I  pro- 
phesied," said  the  hunter,  anon. 

"  I  see,"  Carrington  feverishly  answered. 

"  Youareburued  outof  housean'  home;  an' 
your  only  hope  is  ter  keep  this  pace  until 
you  reach  Washington." 

"I  will  appeal  to  the  authorities." 

"  Et  will  do  no  good.  The  time  is  at  hand 
wheu  tlie  seceders  will  need  ev'ry  flglitiu' 
man  iu  Virginny,  an'  Jake  Shelley  an'  his 
gang  count  as  fast  as  anybody  else.  They 
won't  do  them  harm,  but  this  thing  will  be 
smoothed  over,  an'  the  gang  taken  into  the 
fold,  sure  as  sin." 

Sam  did  not  answer,  for  he  knew  that  'Ziah 
spoke  truly.  War  is  war,  the  world  over  ; 
and  he  could  not  expect  to  have  any  senti- 
ment wasted  on  him  since  he  had  decided  to 
go  against  the  majority  of  Virginians.  Law- 
less and  unauthorized  as  the  attack  had 
been,  his  only  way  was  to  abide  by  it,  and 
hasten  to  the  protection  of  the  old  flag. 

That  he  would  gain  that  shelter  was  by  uo 
means  certain,  for  in  the  rear  came  the  riot- 
ers like  bloodhounds.    Once  in  the  swamp. 


they  might  be  evaded  for  the  night ;  but 
what  of  the  day,  or  days,  to  follow  ? 

At  that  very  moment,  wheu  all  were  gone 
from  the  scene  of  the  conflagration,  except 
the  terror-stricken  negroes,  two  horsemen 
dashed  up  to  the  burning  mansion.  One  was 
Alfred  Penrock,  the  other  a  middle-aged 
planter,  and  a  groan  broke  from  Alfred's 
lips. 

"Merciful  Heaven!"  he  exclaimed,  "I 
never  thought  to  see  such  a  scene  on  the  soil 
of  Virginia.  Those  brutal  wretches  have 
done  more  to-night  to  blacken  the  fair  fame 
of  the  new  confederation  than  all  time  can 
wash  out." 

Then  he  turned  fiercely  to  the  slaves  to  in- 
quire after  Sam. 

Before  he  had  learned  anything,  the  fugi- 
tives were  in  the  swamp.  The  spreading 
trees  seemed  to  stretch  out  their  arms  iu 
welcome,  and  they  went  to  familiar  ground. 
The  pursuers  would  find  it  hard  to  run  them 
down  on  such  soil. 

"Sam,"  said  Strout,  breaking  another  si- 
lence, "there  is  only  one  way  open  to  us. 
We  had  better  scud  North  as  last  as  we  can 
go.  Et's  all  wal  enough  to  be  brave  an' de- 
hant;  but  we  can't  afford  ter  suicide  jest  yet. 
What  do  you  sayV" 

"Push  straight  ahead,"  said  Carrington, 
impatiently,  as  he  nearly  fell  over  a  hum- 
mock. "  All  we  leave  in  Virginia  is  lost  to 
us;  wecan  onlygo  on, and  trust  tofhefuture 
to  give  us  a  chance  for  vengeance." 

"Jake  Shelley  is  goin'  to  chase  us  smart, 
sure  as  sin." 

"Let  him  chase.  "I'll  put  a  bullet  in  his 
head  if  he  comes  too  near." 

'Ziah  rrlaiiscd  into  silence,  but  he  was 
scarcely  at  his  i  a.-c  The  pursuers  knew  the 
way  as  \Mi!  a-  tiny,  aud  seemed  likely  to 
make  it  li<ii  ii,r  llnin  l)efore  the  chase  was 
over,  i'loiniit  action  would  cut  off  their  re- 
treat beyond  the  swamp,  though  he  hoped 
Shelley  lacked  the  brain  to  secure  any  such 
advantage. 

Five  miles  of  swamp  lay  ahead  of  them, 
and  the  first  of  these   was  covered  without 


lishap. 
The  p 


pursuers  did  not  seem  to  gain,  and 
though  Sam  and  'Ziah  now  and  then  stum- 
bled over  hummocks  or  splashed  into  dark 
pools  of  water,  they  bore  it  philosophically. 

Their  troubles  were  but  just  begun,  how- 
ever. 

Anon,  on  the  night-air,  came  a  long, 
tremulous  sound  which  was  like  a  wail,  and 
tha  hunter  started  violently.  The  sound 
was  from  their  rear,  aud  he  had  heard  it  be- 
fore that  night  too  often  to  mistake  its 
character.  Again thenote arose,  long-drawn, 
quivering  and  doleful,  aud  he  nervously 
grasped  Sam's  arm. 

"Did  you  hear  that?"  he  demanded. 

"What  was  it?" 

"Theory  of  a  bloodhound!" 

"1  thought  as  much." 

"  Do  you  know  what  it  means  ?"  demand- 
ed 'Ziah,  a  little  impatiently,  for  Sam  seemed 
too  cool  for  the  occasion." 

"  I  reckon  Jake  Shelley  is  hunting  us  with 
dogs." 

"He  is,  sure  as  sin,  an'  I  s'pose  you  know 
what  that  means.  You've  known  of  lun- 
away  niggers  liein'  hunted  that  way,  an'  you 
know  what  usually  becomes  on  'em." 

"They  are  toruin  pieces." 

"  We  are  marked  out  fur  the  same  fate." 

"  Let  'em  mark  I"  retorted  Sam.  "  We  are 
well  armed,  aud  if  the  worst  comes,  we  will 
show  our  Virginia  blood." 

"Good!"  answered  Strout.  "That's  tlie 
way  ter  talk  et,  an'  I  reckon  the  dogs  don't 
far  our  flesh." 

They  spoke  bravely,  but,  really,  both  were 
sorely  troubled.  Bad  enough  it  certainlv 
was  to  have  men  on  their  track  thirsting  for 
blood,  but  the  addition  of  the  hounds  made 
the  situation  desperate  indeed. 

Although  much  of  the  land  was  low,  there 
were  no  streams,  and  it  was  a  simple  impos- 
sil)ility  to  throw  the  keen-scented  creatures 
off  the  track. 

Ancither  mile  was  soon  passed,  but  the 
threatening  danger  had  grown  more  threat- 
ening. However  itmightbe  with  therioters, 
tlie  bloodhouds  were  gaining.  Nearer  aud 
nearer  yet  sounded  their  tremulous  notes, 
and  it  almost  seemed  as  though  an  acceut  of 
triumph  was  creeping  in.  They  were  gain- 
ing, aud  if  the  work  went  on  they  must  be 
fought. 

The  fugitives  were  beginning  to  feel  the 
effects  of  the  three  mile  run,  coupled  as  it 
was  with  the  plunging  into  pools  and  over 
fallen  trees,  and  'Ziah  suddenly  slackened 
his  pace. 

"  Sam,"  he  said,  "  we've  got  ter  fight  them 
hounds." 

"  I  reckon  we  have,  'Ziah." 


"  Then  let  us  do  et  now,  afore  our  muskle 
is  gone.  Every  minute  o'  this  skedaddle  is 
tellin'  on  us,  an'  ef  we  fight  bloodhounds  we 
need  all  our  capacity.  'Sides,  when  they 
are  onct  gone,  the  blamed  skunks  who  own 
them  may  be  thrown  off  the  trail." 

"  Fight  them  where  you  will;  lam  ready," 
was  the  terse  reply. 

The  hounds  had  been  gaining  rapidly.  No 
man  could  hold  his  own  against  them,  and 
they  had  a  way  of  getting  through  the 
swampy  lowlands  that  was  as  remarkable  as 
it  was  dangerous  to  the  quarry,  whether 
man  or  beast. 

With  such  a  creature  on  the  trail,  one  sees 


of  bushes  like  a  flash  of  light,  neatly 
leaping  from  log  to  hummock— nevei-  paus- 
ing, seldom  tiring,  sure  as  death,  and  usually 
working  for  death. 

Such  IS  a  bloodhound  on  the  trail. 

Sam  aud  'Ziah  crossed  a  little  pine  knoll 
at  a  run,  but  the  hunter  paused  at  the  fur- 
ther side.  There,  bordering  another  low- 
land, and  ending  the  descent  was  a  line  of 
bushes,  and  one  word  from  'Ziah  was  enough 
to  make  both  men  drop  panting  to  the 
ground. 

"Git your  knife  ready,"  said  the  hunter. 

"Dnn't.  


'Don't  use  anything  else  ef  you  kin  help 


firm! 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  RESULT. 

The  hunter  uttered  the  duection  from 
habit,  not  because  he  thought  it  necessary, 
and  then  the  two  brave  men  knelt  in  the 
edge  of  the  bushes;  and,  with  their  knives 
ready,  awaited  the  shock. 

Suddenly  the  wailing  howls  sounded  with 
startling  clearness.  The  hounds  had  gained 
the  top  of  the  knoll,  and  their  cries  seemed 
iniensified  in  power  and  vindictiveness. 
Their  number  was  as  yet  uncertaiu,  though 
they  were  far  too  many  for  comfort,  but  the 
ambushed  men  did  not  waver. 

Down  the  slope  leaped  the  hounds,  their 
yellowish  bodies  distinct  enough  i^i  the 
darkness.  Five  were  already  visible,  and 
more  might  be  in  the  rear. 

Straight  on  they  dashed,  and  then  the 
bushes  parted  before  their  eager  fronts. 
Two  of  them  went  straight  into  trouble. 
Sam  and  'Ziah  had  each  seized  a  victim, 
grasping  the  muscular  throat  with  their  left 
hand;  aud,  at  the  same  time,  driving  home 
the  knives. 

Men  of  less  ability  might  have  failed  in 
the  work;  they  probably  would.  But  not 
so  with 'Ziah  of  the  Swamp  and  his  pupil. 
Through  the  yielding  flesh  and  muscles  went 
the  .steel,  and  then  followed  convulsive 
springs,  a  few  halt-drawn  wails,  inaudible  a 
hundred  feet  away,  and  two  of  the  brutes 
weie  oft'  the  track  forever. 

It  was  not  done  too  soon.  The  three  re- 
maining hounds  had  discovered  the  state  of 
affairs  aud  stayed  their  rush.  Their  eyes 
gleamed  ominously  in  the  darkness,  and 
their  open  mouths  were  emitting  hot  breath. 
They  were  panting  to  avenge  their  comrades' 
death  and  to  tear  the  throats  of  the  am- 
bushers  as  they  had  before  then  torn  those 
of  the  fugitive  slaves. 

Sam  Carrington  settled  coolly  back  to 
await  a  fresh  foe;  but 'Ziah,  remembering 
the  odds  were  agpiust  them,  sprung  forward 
and  met  a  tawny'^brute  half  way. 

He  had  planned  to  end  the  battle  by  one 
strong  thrust,  but  liis  foot  caught  on  a  bush, 
and  he  fell  directly  under  the  dog. 

The  mishap  did  not  alarm  him.  His  left 
hand  went  up  and  closed  on  the  sinewy 
neck  just  before  the  jaws  could  fasten  on 
his  own  throat,  and  then  began  a  desperate 
struggle.  He  had  retained  his  knife,  but  the 
rapid  evolutions  of  the  dog  prevented  him 
from  getting  in  a  decisive  blow,  aud  the 
animal  proved  so  strong  that  he  could  hard- 
ly retain  his  hold. 

It  was  a  grip  for  hfe  or  death.  While  he 
retained  it  the  long  fangs  could  not  rend  his 
flesh;  if  he  lost  it,  the  flght  might  soon  be 
decided  against  him. 

Sam  was  more  fortunate.  He  had  at  the 
first  inflicted  a  severe  wound ;  and,  after 
rolling  about  for  a  little  while,  he  managed 
to  add  another  aud  decisive  one.  He  threw 
off  the  still  quivering  body  and  turned  to 
give  iiis  aid  to  'Ziah. 

The  hunter  and  his  enemy  were  spinning 
about  like  a  pair  of  tops,  and  Sam  looked  in 
vain  for  a  chance  to  get  in  a  blow. 

Before  this  could  be  accomplished,  the 
elder  man  suddenly  east  aside  another  cai^ 
cass,  and  arose  with  his  knife  dipped  in 
blood. 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


"Whar's    the  llfth    .Tog?"    li 
manded. 

"Stepdis  way,   Massa  'Ziah, 


t-oolly  de- 
a'  you  kin 


Thi!  voice  sounded  from  the  darkness,  and 
Sam  started.  Unless  his  ears  deceived  him, 
it  was  tliat  of  Cleon,  the  black  boy. 

"  Wlio  in  sin  bu  you  ?"  the  hunter  demand- 
i!d,iu  suiprise. 

"Golly!  Reckon  you  uns  know  mc.  Jes' 
you  step  dis  way,  an'  you'll  see  me  a-sottin' 
on  him.  ' 

The  men  strode  forward,  and  saw  Cleon 
coolly  seated  on  the  body  of  the  fifth  dog. 
His  hands  were  crossed  unconcernedly 
around  his  knees,  and  he  looked  the  very 
picture  of  contentment. 

"Lord— lord!"    said   'Ziah,  in  amazement 
"  How  did  you  Ret  hyer,  you  young  luuatie, 
an'  how  did  vou  kill  the  dorg." 
Cleon  held  up  bisfiorv  knife. 
"Waal,    I'm    lik.wed! "    muttered   Strout ; 
but  Sam  was  -.nure  concerned. 

"Why  are  you  here,  Cleon?"  he  asked. 
The   bey  arose  suddenly,  and  faced  them 
with  an  earnestness  new  to  him. 

"  Why  am  I  here ?"  he  repeated.  "  I'll  tell 
you  why.MussaSam.  'Cause  I  hab  struck  out 
fur  my  dependauce.  De  day  hab  come 
when  dar  is  a  light  in  de  Nort,  au'  dat  way  I 
am  goiu'.  De  oberseer's  whip  shall  crack  no 
more  'round  my  back,  an'  I  will  be  free  or 
nufBn.  More  dan  dat,  I  am  goln'  wid  you. 
Don't  say  a  word,  Massa  Sam,  fur  it  will  do 
no  good.  De  chains  am  broken,  an'  I  am 
goiu'  to  de  laud  ob  freedom.  Don't  try  to 
send  me  to  Massa  Warburton,  for  my  face  is 
Norf— always  Norf!" 

Boy  though  he  was  and  black  of  skin, 
there  was  au  earnestness  and  pathos  in  his 
manner  which  deeply  impressed  his  hearers. 
The  hunter  addeda  "Hurray,"  iu a  subdued 
manner,  as  he  closed,  and  even  Carriugton 
was  staggered.  Still  he  did  not  want  it  said 
that  he  had  enticed  away  another  man's 
slave. 

He  made  a  few  weak  objections,  but  Cleon 
was  not  to  be  moved.  He  had  run  away 
and  if  they  would  not  permit  him  to  go  in 
their  company  he  would  go  alone. 

"You  shall  go  with  us,"  declared  'Ziah. 

"  We  are  goin'  headlong  across  the  Potomac, 

ef  we  kiu  git  thar,   an'  vou  hev  only  ter 

toiler." 

Cleon  looked  wistfully  at  the  planter. 

"S"  be  it,   my    boy,"    Sam    kindly   said. 


n^f.     Vi 


h;  considering 
him  and  the 
inia  was  ablaze 
11(1  no  love  was 
1    they  crossed 


but  not 


It  was  a  confid 
what  dangers  lay 
refuge  he  was  seek  1 
with  sectional  cx<-i 
wasted  on  UnioTii,- 
the  Potomac  thej- 
before. 

No  further  sound  was  heard  from  thi 
suers.  The  swamp  was  traversed  and'left 
behind ;  horses  were  then  obtained  and  their 
flight  continued.  Such  few  people  as  were 
abroad  at  the  small  hours  of  the  morning 
looked  in  surprise  at  the  three  galloping 
leir  going. 


liders,  but  no  one  opposed 

In  fact,  they  went  on  to  the  Northern 
hues  in  safety,  and  there  found  the  society 
they  craved  in  the  national  crisis.  Having 
cast  their  lot  for  the  old  flag,  their  place 
■■""=  among  the  men  who  were  to  fight  under 


its  folds. 

Sam  and  Cleon  were  not  long  iu  locating 
themselves.    The  former  enlisted  in  a  Con- 
necticut regiment,  iu  which  were  several  of 
friends,  making  no  attempt 
illing  to 


The  warning  came  from  the  hunter,  and  he 
suddenly  dropped  on  the  ground.  Sam  and 
Cleon  followed  his  example,  and  then  all  saw 
a  man  rushing  down  the  slope.  The  pause 
had  enabled  one  pursuer,  who  was  the 
owner  of  the  hounds  and  a  very  swift  run- 
ner, to  reach  the  spot. 

Ziah's  fighting  blood  was  up,  but  the  man 
passed  on  their  right  and  only  a  rifle  ball 
could  have  stopped  him.  They  lay  quietly 
aa  he  ran  for  two  rods,  and  then  came  a  deep 
splash  as  he  plunged  into  the  edge  of  a 
lagoon  or  pool  of  some  sort. 

He  smiled  grimly  as  ihe  ;heard  the  man 
cursing,  but  his  wrath  abruptly  changed  to 
terror  from  some  cause,  and  he  began  to 
scream  loudly. 

Then  the  wild  cries  died  away,  and  the  trio 
knew  that,  whatever  had  occurred  to  the 
unfortunate  wn  ti  li,  bis  career  was  over 

They  had  neither  the  will  nor  the  time  to 
investigate.  The  remaining  pursuers  must 
be  near  at  hand  and  delay  would  be  fatal. 
So  they  arose,  made  a  slight  detour  to  avoid 
the  water  and  went  on  at  a  run. 

"  In  half  an  hour,"  said  'Ziah,  "  we  will  be 
cl'ar  o'  the  swamp,  an'  then  I  know  whar 
we  can  get  bosses  an'  go  on  like  wild  fire. 
We  must  put  many  a  mile  atween  us  an'  this 
place  afore  mornin'.  We  must  desart  old 
Virginny  fur  good  until  we  come  back  as 
conquerors." 

"I  care  very  little  whether  I  ever  come 
back,"  said  Sam,  gloomily,  "I  can  see  only 
darkness  and  ruin  for  our  fair  state;  and  the 
part  of  a  couquerer  would  scarcely  be  a 
pleasant  one." 

"  Still,  I  hanker  like  sin  ter  conquer  .Take 
Shelley  an'  his  gang.  But  let  me  get  my 
grip  on  them  an'  you'll  hear  the  dry  bones 
rattle.    You  will  that!" 

"They  shall  pay  the  debt  to  the  utter- 
most," said  Sam,  with  subdued  passion. 
■  My  heart  is  tender  toward  "Virginia,  but 
those  ruflians  shall  be  punished  if  I  live 
.Vy,  I  must  return  at  smne  day,  return  for 
veugean<>e  on  tlieni  and  to  sec  .Vlfred  Pen- 
rock,  Augusta  and— and  Vida.  ISIess  the 
little  girl!  she  tlioutrlit  of  mewhenlwasin 
peril  and  sentme  warning,  n.ir  shall  I  forget 
It.     I  will  come  back." 


his  old  colli 

to  secure  an  ofBce.  He  was 
mence  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  and  so  th„ 
name  of  Private  Samuel  C.  Carrington  went 
on  the  muster-roll.  How  long  it  would  stay 
there  was  uncertain,  for  the  men  had  en- 
listed for  only  three  months. 

Cleon,  taking  thename  of  Edmund  Smith, 
was  "adopted,"  as  he  e.'cpressed  it,  by  an 
officer  as  his  servant ;  but  'Ziah  Strout  would 
not  enlist.  He  had  all  the  tastes  of  a  scout, 
and  knew  Virginia  well,  and  he  was  ready 
to  act  as  guide  or  spy,  if  so  desired,  if  not, 
to  fight  on  his  own  hook. 

And  so  the  trio  settled  dowu  to  await  what 
might  follow,  and  during  the  long  days 
which  were  passed  in  inactivity  no  word 
came  to  Sam  Carrington  from  the  Shenan- 
doah. 

He  had  said  that  he  would  some  day  go 
back  to  the  old  home,  but  he  little  knew  how 
long  a  time  was  to  elapse  before  he  would 
keep  his  word. 

The  men  who  followed  the  fortunes  of 
the  army  of  the  I'otomae  during  the  first 
year  (if  its  cxistciicc,  did  m.t  see  many  fa- 
iniiiis  i-Ti-aL-riiii-iits.  Till'  cN-iilaiiler  received 
11^  •■  I,;;,. 11. 1,1  ,,r  lire- at  ISiill  liun,  and  then 
iiillinvcil  iliaf  lull--  iiniiid  (.1  inactivity  so 
well  i-ciiK  nilicnil  by  iiicu  who  had  expected 
much  of  llic  Noitliern  army. 

Despite  Ihis,  f<aiii  Carrington  crept  slowlj' 
up  from  thciaiiks,  and  it  was  in  a  captain's 
uniform  that  be  ^s-efit  ivitli  McClellan'sarmy, 
in  its  midsummer  march  of  1862. 

The  Northern  papers  had  substituted  the 
timeworn  headline  of  "All  quiet  on  the  Po- 
tomac "  for  "On  to  Richmond,  "  but  the  time 
had  not  yet  come  for  the  victors'  heel  to 
tread  the  streets  of  the  Southern  city. 

At  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hills,  Captain 
Carrington's  military  career  suffered  a  se- 
vere check. 

He  was  severely  wounded  in  the  Teg  by  a 
rifle  bail,  carried  North,  and  ultimately  dis- 
charged from  service  as  one  crippled  beyond 
redemption. 

For  some  months  he  went  about  on  crutch- 
es, and  then  came  a  brilliant  idea. 

When  in  Paris,  three  years  before,  he  had 
become  personally  acquainted  with  a  French 
surgeon,  reputed  to  be  the  best  in  the  coun- 
try. 

Across  the  ocean  to  him  went  the  ex- 
planter,  and  under  his  care  the  injured  limb 
so  improved  that,  in  July,  18G4,  Sam  Car- 
rington set  his  face  toward  his  native  land, 
as  sound  and  well  as  on  the  day  when  he  fled 
from  Shelley's  outlaws. 


eding 


CHAPTER  VJII. 

IN  THE  FIELD. 

During  his  residence  in  Paris,  Sam  had 
heard  very  little  from  such  of  his  old  ac- 
quaintances as  have  figured  in 
chapters.  That  little  was  nothi 
occasional  newspaper  mentiuns  of  the  Con- 
federate Colonel  Pennock,  liv  which  he 
knew  that  his  old  friend  was  still  alive,  and 
winniijg  military  gl.u-y. 

Of  the  Misses  Warburton,  'Ziah  Strout, 
Cleon  alias  Edmund  Smith,  and  Jake  Shel- 
ley he  knew  absolutely  nothing. 

Since  he  had  been  crippled,  Sam  had  been 
a  morose  and  disappointed  man.  He  saw  his 
loved  country  in  danger,  and  he  was  in  no 
condition  to  give  his  aid.  War  might  surge 
to  the  very  door  of  the  White  House,  and 
contending  armies  flght  in  the  halls  of  con- 
gress, but  ho  was  out  of  the  game. 

With  his  recovery  came  a  revulsion  of  feel- 
ing, and  by  the  time  he  landed  in  New  York 
he  was  once  more  the  gay  and  brilUant  Sam 
of  the  old  days.  He  was  going  into  battle 
again,  and  the  thought  brought  so  much  of 


Landing  at  New  York  the  middle  of  April, 
he  at  once  hastened  to  Washington,  anxious 
for  active  service.  He  had  had  enough  of 
fighting  on  foot,  and,  through  the  aid  of 
fneuds  who  had  uot  forgotten  his  services 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  he  was  at 
once  attached  to  the  cavalry  force  of  Gen- 
eral W.  W.  Averill,  once  more  starting  as  a 
private. 

He  had  found  a  congenial  field  at  last.  A 
fine  horseman,  he  had  all  the  qualities  that 
go  to  make  the  true  cavalry  rider,  and  he  at 
once  entered  on  the  new  life  with  zeal.  His 
first  service  was  when  A  verUlJmoved  to  de- 
stroy the  lead  mines  of  Wytheville,  early  in 
May,  and  from  that  tune  he  followed  the 
fortunes  of  that  commander  wherever  he 
went. 

His  bravery,  prompt  obedience  of  orders 
and  dashing  ways  soon  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  his  superior  oflicers,  and  once  more 
he  began  to  see  promotions  come  to  his  hand, 
so  that,  on  the  first  day  of  August,  he  was 
once  more  enabled  to  sign  his  name  Captain 
Samuel  Carriugton. 

During  his  three  months  with  the  cavalry, 
he  had  several  times  heard  men  mention 
one  Amaziah  Strout,  a  famous  scout,  spy  and 
guide;  but  their  paths,  so  long  divided,  had 
not  yet  converged. 

Matters  had  uot  been  progressing  very  fa- 
vorably iu  the  Shenandoah  Valley  for  the 
Union  cause.  There  had  been  engagements 
which  sometimes  resulted  in  victory,  and  as 
otten  in  defeat,  and  Lieutenant^General 
Grant  saw  the  need  of  a  better  organization 
at  that  point.  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania 
required  protection  from  invasion,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  demand  for  a  forward  move- 
ment; so,  after  some  delay,  several  minor 
departments  were  consolidated  in  one,  and, 
on  the  seventh  of  August,  General  Sheridan 
was  given  command. 

The  six  weeks  which  followed  gave  con- 
siderable active  service  to  the  cavalry,  but, 
before  making  a  bold  push  forward,  Sheri- 
dan had  to  thoroughly  organize  his  army 
and  secure  permission  to  attempt  the  plans 
formed  by  his  active  mind. 

With  each  dash,  Sam  Carrington  gained 
fresh  laurels.  He  was  always  quick  to  obey, 
and,  since  his  elevation  to  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain, he  had  shown  a  skill  iu  executing 
orders  which  did  not  pass  unnoticed.  All 
these  things,  combined  with  his  splendid 
horsemanship,  llnally  gaijied  for  him  a 
sobriquet  by  which  he  'was  ever  after 
known. 

A  handful  of  men  were  needed  for  a 
scout,  and  Sheridan  had  turned  to  Averill, 
and  Tightly  said:  "You  may  send  Cavalry 
Sam;"  and  from  that  hour  the  ex-planter 
had  a  name  which  stuck  to  him  like  a  burr. 
One  day,  near  the  last  of  August,  General 
Averill,  while  making  a  tour  of  the  camp, 
came  to  Sam  iu  person,  and,  after  greeting 
him,  abruptly  said:  * 

"  I  desire  you  to  take  fifty  men,  captain, 
and  go  on  a  scout  toward  Bostwick's  wood. 
A  scout  has  just  come  in  and  reported  that 
there  are  a  number  of  suspicious  characters 
hanging  about  there,  and  though  they  wear 
no  uniform,  I  suspect  they  are  trying  to 
learn  too  much.  Look  them  up  and  deal 
with  them  as  your  judgment  directs,  but  try 
to  bring  in  at  least  one  prisoner.  I'll  send 
the  scout  to  vou  at  once." 

Sam  answered  cheerfully ;  and,  while  the 
general  walked  aw  -,  prepared  for  the  ex- 
pedition. 

He  was  still  busy  when  a  peculiar  voice 
sounded  behind  him. 

"Whar's  the  slashers  that  goes  out  under 
my  wing?  I'd  like  ter  measure  'em  afore 
we  start,  fur  we  may  hev  ter  fight  like  sin." 
The  voice  was  very  famiUar  to  Cavalry 
Sam,  and  he  wheeled  quickly,  an  eager  look 
on  bis  face.  His  eyes  had  not  deceived  him. 
Before  him,  looking  exactly  as  he  did  three 
years  before,  'Ziah  Strout  stood  with  his 
long  arms  wrapped  around  his  rifie. 

"  'Ziah  !"  exclaimed  the  young  officer,  and 
he  strode  forward  with  outstretched  hand. 
But  the  scout  wrapped  hia  arms   closer 
around  his  rifle  and  stood  resolutely. 

"Don't ye  do  it,  Cap'n  Carrington— don't 
ye  do  it,"  he  said,  in  asubdued  voice.  "The 
slashers  are  a-lookin'." 

"  What  of  that?"  demanded  Sam,  greatly 
astonished  at  having  his  hand  refused. 

"Why,  cap'n,  don't  ye  see?  We  ain't 
boys  no  longer,  an'  thisain'tthe  Shenandoah 
swamp.  Times  is  changed.  You  are  :• 
cap'n  o' slashers  au'  I'm  only  a  pathliiifli  i. 
Don't  let  the  slashers  see  ye  too  familiar  i\ith 
seoh!" 
Sam  burst  intn  a  ringing  lair;h  ;.!  :d  then 


8 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


tore  'Ziah's  arms  loose,  and  grappled  with 
bis  rjeht  hand,  which  he  shoolc  violently. 

"Why  you  old  rascal,"  he  said,  regard- 
leas  of  the  stares  of  the  men,  "who  has  been 
putting  folly  into  your  wise  head?  Too 
much  war  has  petrined  your  heai't,  but  you 
can't  give  me  the  cold  shoulder.  You  and  I 
have  been  on  too  many  a  trail  to  put  on  airs 
now." 

The  scout  look  around  in  horror.  To  his 
military  mind,  Sam  was  committing  an  ir- 
reparable breach  of  decorum,  but  he  knew 
him  too  well  of  old  to  oppose  his  will  any 
further. 

Questions  were  e-Tcitedly  asked  and  an- 
swered for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  what 
they  did  not  know  of  each  other  from  hear- 
say, began  to  gain  form.  FuU  explanations 
must  be  reserved  for  a  f  uturi'  tiTue,  but  Sam 
was  pleased  to  hear  that  'Ziuh  would  follow 
the  fortunes  of  SUeridau'.s  army  for  a  while. 

"But  I  ain't  bound  trr  ■notlihiq,"  the 
Boout  emplintii-iillv  siiid.     "  I'm  alree'bnoter, 


or. 


,  hool 


IS  will  go 


No  111 

lalwi',  I    iiiM.-i    Iri-tlie  wheelfur 

theol.l  li  il;.     ;   ii',,    shrriUaii,   an'hyer'sas 

expects  liis  s 

Sheuaudunh. 

By  thistime  all  was  ready  for  the  scout, 
and  the  men  mounted,  and  rode  off  with 
CarringtonandStroutattheirhead.  As  they 
went,  the  latter  gave  Sam  a  good  deal  of  in- 
formation concerning  old  actjuaintances, 
and  a  few  items  may  lie  given  here. 

Augusta  and  Vida  Warburton  were  at  the 
old  home  in  the  valley,  but  their  father  had 
long  since  succumbed  to  old  age,  and  closed 
his  earthly  career.  Augusta  was  as  devoted 
as  ever  to  the  cause  of  the  Confederates,  and 
she  had  done  much  for  their  armies  from 
time  to  time,  but  the  younger  sister  had  no 
sympathy  for  the  seceders. 

Alfred  Penrock  was  with  General  Early, 
and  Sam  had  heard  of  him  too  often  in  a 
jiublic  way  to  need  'Ziah's  assurance  that  he 
was  one  of  the  best  regimental  leaders  that 
the  war  had  produced. 

Having  gained  an  outline  of  all  these  mat- 
ters, Sam  turned  his  attention  more  closely 
to  the  work  before  him.  He  had  a  five  mile 
ride  to  reach  Bostwick's  wood,  but  the  dis- 
tance was  soon  covered  by  the  riders  in  blue. 


plore.  Five  miles  long  by  three  wide,  it  was 
in  all  parts  dark  and  tangled,  while  near  the 
center  was  a  swamp  covering  two  or  three 
acres,  which  afforded  treacherous  footing 
even  for  a  man  of  light  weight. 

The  blueeoats  were  not  pleased  at  the  out- 
look. Cavalrymen  by  nature  and  education, 
they  preferred  to  tight  in  the  open  field 
rather  than  in  a  chaparral,  but  they  kept 
the  peace  as  they  rode,  and  were  ready  to 
support  Carringtou  to  the  death,  if  need  be. 

Having  reached  the  edge,  Sam  spread  out 
his  command  in  a  long  line,  with  'Ziah  in 
advance  as  a  scout,  and  the  decisive  advance 
was  begun.  The  way,  as  has  been  said,  was 
tangled.      Small    bushes   grew    plentifully 


there  without  mucli  regard  for  order. 

Spread  out  though  they  were,  the  presence 
of  the  scout  in  advance  guarded  them  from 
danger  of  an  ambush.  He  covered  ten  feet 
to  every  one  made  by  the  slow-moving 
horsemen,  and,  gliding  rapidly  from  side  to 
side,  looked  into  every  suspicious  place  be- 
fore they  entered. 

Certain  signals,  often  used  by  him  and  Sam 
in  the  old  days,  had  been  agreed  upon  be- 
fore stinting,  and  when  the  order  was  sud- 
denly passed  along  the  lineforthe  command 
to  halt,  they  knew  something  had  been  seen 
or  heard,  though,  to  them,  the  plaintive 
bird-call  from  ahead  had  no  particular 
meaning. 

Cavalry  Sam  was  better  versed  in  'Ziah's 
ways.  The  bird-call  had  come  from  the 
scout's  throat,  and  it  meant  halt !  So  he 
gave  the  order  and  the  advance  ceased.  Then 
came  another  signal,  and  the  officer  spoke  to 
the  second  in  command,  gave  his  rein  to  a 
private,  dismounted,  and  glided  through  the 
bushes. 

He  found  'Ziah  at  the  base  of  a  ridge, 
calmly  waiting  for  him  to  join  him. 

"  Well?"  questioned  Carrington. 

"  Look  over  ther  ridge." 

Sam  looked,  but,  at  first,  saw  nothing. 
Then,  to  his  keen  sight,  came  a  new  discov- 
ery. 

"  Is  it  smoke  ?"  he  asked. 

"  Sure  as  sin.  I  see  you  ain't  forgot  what 
I  I'amed  ye.  Yas,  there  is  smoke  thar,  an'  I 
opine  it  comes  from  a  fire.  Stay  hyer,  cap'n, 
an'  I'll  cro  an'  Rep  " 


will  take  the  right.  Afterward,  if  not  too 
reckless,  meet  at  the  center." 

'Ziah  did  not  remonstrate.  "  Mad  Sam  "  of 
the  old  days,  had  been  his  pupil ;  Captain 
Carrington  was  his  superior  officer. 

They  separated,  and  with  the  caution  of 
Indians,  crept  toward  the  top  of  the  ridge. 
Beyond  the  crest,  they  could  still  see  the 
smoke  curling  upward  among  the  tree  tops, 
and  they  had  no  doubt  but  that  some  sort  of 
a  camp  was  there. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

BUSH  W  HACK  EKS. 

Sam  felt  Iiis  blood  thrill  as  he  crept  along 
through  the  bushes.  His  many  expeditions 
with  'Ziah  in  the  past  had  been  taken  be- 
cause of  nil  inborn  love  of  the  wood  and  its 
ways;  uiul  though  the  wild  boy  had  become 
an  energetic  man,  the  old   feeling  was  still 


IIii 


.h-  I'll  go 
"I  will 


go,   too.    Move  to  tiie  left,  and 


ed  the  top  of  the  ridge,  he 
iDiiKin  in  cr  ;nm  again  saw  the  smoke,  but, 
tluMi.^h  if  was  more  distinct  and  plainly 
loiali-ii.  111.' trees  and  bushes  at  its  source 
prcvcnicil  iiiiii  from  seeing  the  builders. 

Ill-  sill  v.\  |.(l  the  whole  locality  with  hawk- 
liki-  l.;i  I'liiiiss,  and  then  crept  down  the 
soullH  1 II  ^iM|n..  It  was  not  very  dignified 
will!;  1(11  ail  ai  luy  office!-,  but  he  was  so  sit- 
uated .ju.-t  I  lien  that  he  could  disregard  form 
and  ceremony,  and  he  went  ou  with  real 
pleasure. 

Gliding  from  rock  to  rock  |;and  through 
thickets,  he  soon  gained  a  view  of  the  spot 
from  which  the  smoke  was  arising.  Huge 
pine  trees  arose  thickly  on  the  lidge,  and  in 
a  group  of  those,  Sam,  peering  out  from  a 
thicket,  saw  the  campers. 

.\  .amii  ill  (hi-  wood  is  always  picturesque, 

ainl  <>"■  • I'  brawny  fellows  who  lay 

ail ;t  droppings  from  the  tree- 

to|  ■  i;     i.ly  wild  enough  of  look  to 

ui.iM  ;i  \'  iili  11,    ir  surroundings. 

No  uiiifurnicd  soldiers  were  they,  blue  or 
gray,  but  men  in  garments  of  varied  colors, 
ragged  and  soiled  by  mud,  some  without 
sleeves  and  others  decapitated  at  the  bottom 
until  they  were  merely  jackets;  all  rough, 
ragged  and  uncouth.  Nor  were  their  wear- 
ers any  better.  Men  gaunt  and  ill  shaped  of 
form,  with  unkempt  hair  and  beard. 

Sam  had  seen  such  men  before.  They  are 
to  be  found  everywhere.  Go  where  one 
may,  the  vagabond  and  vagrant  is  visible. 
There  were  such  in  A'irginia  in  1S61 ;  there 
were  more  in  1864,  for  the  iron  hand  of  war 
had  been  there.  Sam  had  seen  such  men  in 
the  old  days— had  known  them  as  "poor 
whites;"  and,  once,  he  had  seen  men  very 
much  like  them  come  to  his  house  by  night 
with  torch  and  rifle. 

How  vividly  that  night  of  terror  came 
back  to  him  then. 

He  looked  closely  at  the  campers,  and  then 
suddenly  started.  Did  he  see  a  ghost,  or 
was  the  ragged  man  by  the  tree  the  same 
who  had  led  on  the  rioters  to  murder  him  ? 

There  was  no  mistake;  Jacob  Shelley  was 
before  him,  and  not  much  survey  was 
needed  to  mark  him  as  the  leader  of  the 
band. 

"  Bushwhackers!"  commented  Sam,  aloud. 
"  A  pretty  gang  of  ruifians,  or  their  looks 
and  leadership  go  for  nothing.  Aha!  Jake 
Shelley,  I  think  I  see  revenge  in  store  for 
me.    You  are  the  only  man  in    Virginia  I 


The  best  of  men  sometimes  make  mistakes, 
and  as  often  are  taken  off  their  guard.  While 
Sam  looked,  he  did  not  see  that  a  dark  form 
was  approaching  him  from  the  rear;  nor 
did  he  suspect  that  one  of  Shelley's  scouts, 
coming  in  hastily  to  apprise  the  band  of  the 


approach    of   the  Uuionists,   had    seen  th 

phantom    in    ' 

bushes, 


blue     crawling    through    the 

Nevertheless,  the  bushwhacker  scout  had 
seen  all  this,  and  in  his  anxiety  to  capture 
the  spy  he  had  forgotten  the  more  important 
business.  Ho  wanted  the  glory  of  taking 
Sam  alone. 

Thickly  (iovered  as  was  the  ground  by  the 
droppings  from  the  pines,  not  a  sound  be- 
trayed his  advance.  He  crept  on,  nearer 
and  still  nearer ;  then,  suddenly  his  whole 
weight  droppetl  on  the  captain's  back. 

Taken  wholly  by  surprise.  Sam  did  not 
lose  his  presence  of  mind.  A  heavy  weight 
was  on  his  hips,  and  heavy  hands  were  on 
his  shoulders.  If  the  unknown  knew  his 
business  he  could  not  be  "  turned." 

So  the  captain,  without  a  movement  that 
might  have  been  expected,  flung  his  hands 
up  over  his  neck  and  caught  at  the  bush- 
whacker's garments.  By  chance  he  secured 
a  good  hold,  and  then  the  man,  who    had 


thought  to  fight  at  an  advantage,  found 
himself  drawn  down  and  gripped  tightlv  bv 
the  throat. 

He  was  strong,  being  larger  of  frame  than 
Sam  ;  but  he  soon  found  he  had  saddled  a 
restive  horse.  One  resistless  squirm  and  the 
captain  had  turned  himself.  A  slight  shift- 
ing of  hold  and  he  had  the  bushwhacker  on 
equal  terms. 

The  latter  felt  the  strength  of  his  long 
arms,  and  became  desirous  of  shouting  for 
help,  but  the  grip  on  his  throat  shut  off 
utterance  as  well  as  wind.  In  a  short  time 
it  would  strangle  him  unless  he  worked 
himself  free. 

A  desperate  struggle  began,  but  it  was  far 


bke  an  anaconda,  and  if  the  latter  had  been 
in  a  joking  mood,  he  might  have  compared 
his  situation  to  that  of  a  man  in  the  hug  of 
a  grizzly. 

Carrington's  tremendous  muscle  had  its 
way.  He  planted  the  bushwhacker  on  his 
back,  gained  his  own  knees,  and  assumed  a 
most  ferocious  scowl  as  he  looked  down  on 
his  Tictim. 

"One  word,"  he  hissed,  and  I'll  cut  your 
throat.    Do  you  hear  me  ? " 

The  man  did  hear,  but  could  not  answer. 
He  was  already  growing  purple  in  the  face 
from  the  terrible  grip  on  his  neck,  and  his 
frantic  but  unsystematic  struggles  showed 

"  I  urn  going  to  let  on  j'our  breath  again," 
he  sternly  said,  "Ijut  I  swear  that  one  word 
of  alarm  seals  your  fate.  Hear  me,  and  take 
warning." 

He  released  his  hold,  and  still  watching 
his  captive,  proceeded  to  use  the  man'sknlfe 
on  a  stick  with  such  dexterity  that  he  soon 
had  a  gag  finished. 

By  that  time  the  piisouer  was  breathing 
more  naturally,  and  the  terror  expressed  in 
his  face  had  given  place  to  fierce  rage;  but 
he  dared  make  no  cry. 

He  had  learned  the  mettle  of  his  enemy  to 
his  sorrow. 


ing. 

At  first  he  seemed  destined  to  fail  in  this, 
but  luck  favored  him.  The  bushwhacker, 
having  no  suspenders,  had  a  cord  ingeniously 
wound  around  his  waist  to  sustain  his  lower 
garments,  and  the  captain  promptly  appro- 
priated it  and  finished  securing  him. 

"Now,"  he  quietly  said,  "all  you  have  to 
do  is  to  keep  where  you  are  for  atfew  min- 
utes. Business  obliges  me  to  take  my  de- 
parture, but  I'll  leave  you  in  good  con- 
dition." 

As  Sam  spoke  the  last  word,  he  heard 
voices  behind  him  on  the  slope,  and,  wheel- 
ing, he  peered  through  the  bushes. 

Down  the  descent,  a  score  of  men  were 
coming,  their  faces  directly  toward  him,  but 
their  appearance  did  not  afford  him  plea- 
sure. 

Plainly,  they  were  of  Jake  Shelley's  own 
kind,  rough-and-ready  bushwhackers;  and 
their  arrival  iilaced  him  between  two  fires, 
as  it  were. 

He  crouched  lower  in  the  bushes,  his  wea- 
pons ready  for  use,  and  awaited  with  some 
anxiety. 

Discovery  meanttronble  of  the  worst  kind, 
perhaps  death,  but  he  was  resolved  to  fight 
it  out,  if  need  be. 

A  peaceful  surrender  would  only  give  a 
tame  victory  to  the  bushwhackers  and  do 
him  no  good. 

He  wished  for  his  blueeoats  then,  but  it 
would  be  madness  to  signal.  As  though  in 
answer  to  his  thoughts,  a  bird-call  just  then 
sounded  from  the  northern  slope,  and  he 
knew  'Ziah  had  finished  his  survey,  and  gone 
to  the  place  of  meeting;  but  he  dared  not 


The  new-comers  made  considerable  noise, 
and  the  first  lot  soon  aroused. 

Jake  Shelley  pushed  to  the  front  and 
gave  a  challenge,  but,  immediately  iifter,  he 
seemed  to  recognize  the  leader  of'stiangers, 
for  the  two  men  stepped  forward  and  shook 
hands  cordially. 

Kindred  spirits  had  met,  but  their  rags  de- 
prived them  of  all  claims  to  the  dignity  of 
chieftainship. 

They  were  standing  near  Sam,  and  he 
heard  all  that  they  said.  Questions  were 
mutually  asked  and  answered. 

The  new-comers  were  of  a  roving  band,  and 
their  leader  seemed  to  be  named  Bragdon. 
Evidently,  he  and  Shelley  were  birds  of 
common  plumage,  for  he  was  soon  cordially 
invited  to  camp  with  the  first  party. 

The  bushwhackers  needed  only  the  word. 
They  then  flung  themselves  down   in   their 


THE  WAH  LIBRARY. 


tracks,  produced  their  pipes,  and  began  to 
suioke  vigorously. 

Doul)tless  tbere  was  a  touch  of  the  pictur- 
itsque  about  the  double  camp,  but  all  this 
was  lost  ou  Captaiu  Sam  Carringtou.  By 
the  formation  of  the  new  wing,  he  was 
placed  iu  the  very  heart  of  the  dual  force, 
and  only  concealed  from  their  view  by  a 
thin  curtain  of  bushes. 
I  His  situation  was  serious,  and  he  realized 
it  fully. 

If  his  prisoner  should  manage  to  give  the 
alarm,  or  if  one  of  tlie  bushwhackers  should 
thrust  his  iiosr  iiisi.lc  the  thicket,  discovery 


ou  the  prisoner. 
ill,  with  surprising  light- 

kuife.  It  was  once  your 
ou-  its  temper.  Well,  if 
1  as  a  groan,  or  crackle  a 
ends   your   hfe.     Under- 


you  uttfi- 
stick,  the 
stand?" 

The  man  nodded,  sullenly.  He  possessed 
an  aversige  amount  of  pluck,  but  he  had  no 
desire  to  buck  unaiust  sure  death. 

Sam  lell  to  tliiiikiug.  The  bushwhackers 
had  settled  listlossly  d.iwu  in  their  places. 
Plaiulv,  tlii-y  dill  not  know  aught  of  the 
Union"  ciivairynii'i].  Even  the  bird-calls 
from  l)cvniiii  '  till-  lidge  fell  heedlessly  on 
their  hia'iiii,;;.  i.iiiite  enough  they  certainly 
were,  lnit  it  was  like  the  sleep  of  a  panther. 
Oner  111  ouse  llii-ni  and  they  would  be  merci- 
less, ami  it  wuiilil  be  almost  miraculous  if 
some  one  of  them  did  not  soon  intrude  in  the 
thicket. 

As  has  been  said,  Sam  fell  to  thinking.  He 
wanted  to  get  out  of  the  trap  badly,  but 
how  was  it  to  be  done?  Clearly,  not  by 
stealth,  for  no  such   way  was  open.    If  he 


wen 


iti 


;  be  openly.    How  would  a  dash 


He  asked  himself  the  question,  and  an- 
swered it  by  deciding  that  it  would  only 
serve  to  make-  himself  a  sieve,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  Confederate  lead ;  and  he 
wanted  no  such  ballast, 

Uuly  one  idea  occurred  to  him,  and  though 
that  was  a  desperate  one,  he  resolved  to  take 
oue  step  in  executing  it. 

So  he  quietly  relieved  his  prisoner  of  his 
ooat  and  lower  garment,  and  slipped  them 
ou  over  his  own  uniform.    This  Wiis  not  dif- 


.•ult. 


r-1-r..t 


nug 


over  liij  taiv,  att.  r  which  he  (lisariaiiged  his 
hair  tn  tin'  Inst  nl  his  ability. 

Till'  work  liail  hrcii  scieutifieally  done,  and 
wlu-ii  111'  hail  aiiiliil  the  prisoner's  slouch  hat, 
he  looked  like  i|iiite  a  passable  desperado. 
Just  what  he  was  to  do  ue.xt  he  had  no  idea, 
but  at  that,  moment  he  was  startled  by  see- 
ing one  of  the  bushwhackers  entering  the 
thicket 


CHAPTER  X. 

SAM   AS  A   BUSHWHACKER. 

Brave  as  Cavalry  Sam  was,  he  felt  genuine 
alarm  at  seeing  the  Confederate  thus  advan- 
cing. If  he  saw  the  captive  guerrilla  he 
would  sound  an  alarm,  and  the  captain  was 
not  mad  enough  to  think  he  could  overcome 
and  bind  the  stout  fellow  In  the  heart  of  the 
camp  without  giving  his  game  dead  away  to 
the  enemy. 

Plainly,  the  intr\ider  must  be  stopi)ed. 

Acting  on  a  sudden  idea,  the  disguised 
officer  pushed  forward  and  met  the  man  face 
to  face. 

"  Better  hold  up,  old  man,  ef  yer  don't 
want  a  pesky  scratchin',"  he  said,  gruffly. 
'Them  scrub   pines  tickle  like    as  though 


i  hands  as  t 


they  had  thorns. 

ey 

looking  the  man  full  in  the  face  and  re- 
solved to  make  an  attack  on  him  and  then  a 
dash  if  anything  wrong  was  suspected. 

A  half-smile  crossed  the  man's  face  and 
then  his  own  gaze  fell  to  Sam's  hands.  The 
latter  looked  in  the  same  direction  and  then 
a  sudden  perspiration  burst  from  every  pore. 

There,  showing  plainly  through  a  long 
rent  in  one  sleeve,  the  Union  blue  of  his  uni- 
form stared  them  iu  the  face. 

No  wonder  the  eaptain  was  alarmed ;  no 
wonder  he  raised  his  gaze  quickly  and 
savagely  to  the  other's  face;  but  the  bush- 
whacker, with  only  a  careless  glance  which 
did  not  detect  the  telltale  blue,  looked  care- 


lessly up  at  the  dirt-grimed  face  of  his  new 
acquaintance. 

He  was,  himself,  oue  of  Bragdon's  men, 
and  he  supposed  Sam  belonged  with  Shel- 
ley's band. 

•'  I  was  er  tryin'  to  find  the  source  o'  the 
water  I  see,"  he  e.xplained.  "My  throat  is 
dry  as  an  army  cracker." 

"  Ivi;;ht  up  yon,  comrade,"  said  Sam, 
promptly.  "FoUermean'  I'll  show  you  the 
way." 

'•  Lead  on,  old  man." 

And  then,  one  or  two  of  Bragdon's  men 
saw  two  persons  walk  liismvly  up  tlie  hill, 
side  by  siili-,  witlioiil  a  siispiiioii  that  any- 
thing was  \\roii-.  Uiiii't  till' t  ivo  tiicy  knew 
tobeDii'k  Foul  iirtlnn-inwi  .niiii.aiiy ;  the 
othpr,  otcoiiiM',  liol, Ill-Ill  uilli  Slii'lli'v. 


it  sight  of  the  new  comers, 
one  of    them  said;  "you 
We  want  two  more  in  this 


wet  my  whistle. 


Sam  was  on  the  point  of  pleading  pressing 
bnsini'ss,  b-.it  he  sudili-nly  changed  his  mind 


sat  down  to  play,  depositing  their  arms  in  a, 
pile  near  at  hand.  It  seeinoil  as  tlioiigh 
Cavalry  Sam  was  playing  willi  hri',  hut  lie 
maintained  a  remarkable  cuuliuss.  'I'he 
spring  was  distant  about  thirty  yards  from 
the  cilgi'of  till' hostile  camp,  but  the  water 
might  soon  ili;iw  other  men  there. 


"Reckon  I  am,  old  man,  un'  I  don't 
knuckle  fur  any  critter  in  his  brigade.  I'm 
an  old  swamp-sucker  fur  oue  o'  my  years, 
an'  what  I  don't  know  about  biz  is  oncom- 
mou  men." 

This  modest  summary  of  his  own  import- 
ance did  not  materially  affect  the  other 
men.  They  had  heard  such  boasting  before 
and  tney  wanted  to  be  courteous  to  one  of 
Shilliy  s    nu'ii,  especially   when    the  cards 

Thiy  i'xiiii.t('il  a  good,  solid  game,  but 
Sam  hail  an  opinion  of  his  own.  As  Dick 
l-'uid  sh  Hilled  the  cards,  the  disguised 
Unionist  suddenly  leaned  forward. 

"Wait  a  bit,"  he  said,  touching  his  arm, 
"Let  me  call  your  attention  to  one  thing 
before  we  play.  Do  you  see  this  six- 
shooter?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Ford,  rather  indifferently. 

"  Ton  observe  that  it  is  loaded?" 

"Sartin." 

"Also,  that  one  good  marksman  could 
clean  out  three  of  four  unarmed  men  when 
holding  such  a  barker?" 

"Sartin.    I've  done  it  myself." 

"  Good !  Then  you  know  how  i  In-  machine 
works.  Well,  gentlemen,  alloiv  me  to  say, 
you  are  my  prisoners!  " 

Sam  suddenly  changed  his  tone.  The  list- 
less look  vanished  from  his  face,  his  eyes 
flashed,  his  voice  was  curt  and  sharp,  and 
the  revolver  was  presented  full  at  Dick 
Ford's  breast. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  demanded  the 
bushwhacker,  still  unsuspicious,  but  resent- 
ing what  he  thought  a  poor  "joke." 

"  Look  behind  you." 

The  men  obeyed. 

There,  only  a  few  feet  away,  stood  'Ziah 
Strout,  a  revolver  in  each  hand,  the  muzzles 
covering  their  breasts ;  their  own  weapons, 
which  had  been  piled  together,  as  before 
stated,  under  his  feet. 

"You  are  our  pnsonere  I"  repeated  Sam, 
sharply,  "  and  you  mustn't  kick  against  fate. 
If  you  try  to  run,  or  to  alarm  the  camp,  you 
are  dead  men." 

As  he  spoke,  he  threw  open  his  ragged  coat 
at  the  breast,  and  they  saw  the  Union  blue 
and  the  glittering  buttons  underneath. 

That  sight  was  convincing,  if  his  words 
were  not,  and  they  knew  they  were  in  hostile 
company. 

"Don't  move  an  eye-winker,"  said 'Ziah, 
warningly,  "  or  you  are  dead  men." 

The  bushwhackers  were  not  fools.  They 
saw  that  they  were  in  trouble,  and  that  the 
two  men  had  tho  power  to  keep  their  word. 
Doubtless,  they  had  the  will,  also. 

Still,  they  began  to  bluster,  and,  through 
belligerent  looks,  tried  to|over  awe  theUnion- 
ists ;  but  they  had  been  caught  by  men  of 
their  own  mettle,  and  it  did  not  work. 


Cavalry  Sam  allowed  them  to  ease  otf  a 
little  of  their  breath  in  empty  words,  and 
then  he  ordered  them  to  face  to  the  north 
and  march. 

It  was  a  galling  downfall,  but  glittering 
sixes  are  always  powerful  in  their  way,  and 
the  ragged  trio  had  a  due  regard  for  their 
lives. 

They  demurred,  threatened,  and  swore; 
but  ended  by  obeying  the  command.  Aris- 
ing, they  started  over  the  <M'est  of  the  ridge, 
and  Sara  and  'Ziah  followed  after  with  their 
revolvers  still  Ii'mIoiI. 

In  till  .  ■     ■■,    ii'"  ^  I  .       in:     i.i  Ml  loll     till-    spot 

anil  tl;  ■  '  i  -   i  .1,  |ia-.,oil,  and 

ing  tliii.  ,.1      ,,  ...       :   .'.  .■  till-  three 

guerrilkisi.il aim    ■- I   unli-r,  though 

without  music. 

While  they  were  being  bound,  Sam  cast  off 
his  disguise,  and  ijrepared  for  further  work. 
He  wanted  more  prisoners,  and  he  wanted 
to  clear  the  Shenandoah  Valley  of  a  gang  of 
men  who  were  alike  a  uuisauce  to  Union  sol- 
diers and  Southi-rn  citizens. 

'Ziah  was  i-huckling  as  he  told  the  men 
how  they  bail  taken  in  the  trio,  but  Sam 
had  no  linn.-  tor  i-onver.satiou. 


the 


Ih.  :iiN,,iM  blue  were  divided  into  two 
liarlii's,  anil,  while  Carrington  himsell  went 
away  with  one  to  gain  the  further  base  of 
the  ridge,  'Ziah  remained  with  the  second, 
which  had  been  left  in  charge  of  a  lieuten- 
ant. 

This  party  rode  to  the  ridge,  and  left  their 
horses  in  the  bushes,  alter  which  they  crept 
torwaiil  a  littli-aml  waited. 

It  was  nut  long  t.i-fore  the  old  bird-call 
sounded  at  tin- south.  It  was  the  signal  from 
'Ziah  to  announce  that  he  was  in  position, 
and  an  advance  was  at  once  begun. 

Up  the  ridge  they  went  like  creeping  pan- 
thers ;  then  the  word  ran  alone  the  line,  and 
they  dashed  over  the  crest,  and  rushed  down 
on  the  unsuspecting  bushwhackers. 

Kever  was  there  a  more  complete  surprise. 
Not  a  guard  had  been  posted ;  every  man 
was  taking  his  ease,  and  many  of  them  were 
fast  asleep. 

When  they  awoke,  it  was  to  find  the  enemy 
in  their  midst. 

Jake  Shelley  was  the  first  to    recover  his 


tenant.  He  shouted  an  order  to  fire,  and  the 
wood  roared  out  the  echo  of  the  volley. 

Consternation  seized  upon  the  bushwhack- 
ers. They  were  not  the  trained  soldiers  of 
the  Southern  army,  those  gallant  men  who 
could  stand  and  die,  if  need  be,  before  a  su- 
perior force;  but  men  who  had  always 
fought  with  the  odds  in  their  favor,  and 
skulked  in  the  bnsh  when  they  should  have 
been  drilling. 

They  saw  several  of  their  men  fall,  and 
then  turned  to  tlee. 

Even  Shelley  did  not  try  to  stop  them.  He 
went  with  the  foremost,  and  it  was  each  man 
for  himself. 

At  the  base  of  the  hill  they  had  horses,  and 
they  rushed  wildly  to  secure  them. 

Till!  spot  was  reached;  but  they  arrived 
only  to  run  into  the  hands  of  Carrington  and 
till'  lii-st  party,  which  had  gained  the  position 
by  a  detour. 

Their  situation  was  desperate  then.    Hem- 


med 

rats  in  a  trap  ;  but  despei-.i 

teeth  to  the  front,  and  tlu 

Sam    shouted  to  them 

they  only  set  their  fares 


they  were  like 
ion  brought  their 
began  to  flght. 
n  surrender,  but 
11  the  front,  and 
made  a  rush  in  a  body. 

Beforesuch  an  inipil  111ms  I  iiarge  the  Union 
line  wavered  tor  a  liiiu-,  and  though  the 
Unionists  con.soliilat I'll  as  soon  as  possible,  a 
dozen  or  more  men  breki'  through,  and  took 
to  the  bushes  where  pursuit  was  useless; 

The  others  were  soon  forced  to  throw 
down  their  arms  and  surrender.  Captivity 
was  better  than  death,  and  in  sullen  silence 
they  submitted  to  the  wishes  of  their  con- 
querors. 

Cavalry  Sam  would  allow  no  violence,  and 
the  prisoners  were  systematically  secured 
and  the  wounded  given  duo  attention. 

Not  one  of  the  boys  in  blue  had  been  kill- 
ed. Four  or  five  had  wounds,  and  the  one 
marked  by  Jake  Shelley  at  the  first  of  the 
flght  had  an  ugly  bullet  track  along  the  top 
ot  his  head,  which  had  for  the  time  stunned 
him,  but,  taken  all  in  all,  it  had  been  a  most 
successful  performance. 

Twenty-two  priBoners    aim    Joi-iy    horfcs 


10 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


had  fallen  ioto  their  hands,  and  six  dead 
men  lay  under  thu  pines.  Sam  had  well 
obeyed  his  order  to  bring  "at  least  6ne 
prisoner." 

Some  furiUer  stouting  showed  them  that 
no  fnrthci  force  was  in  the  wood,  and  then 
the  return  was  begun. 

Carnngton  regretted  that  Jake  Shelley 
had  been  among  those  who  escaped,  but, 
sooner  or  later,  he  hoped  to  square  the  old 
aceount. 

The  scontiug  party  returned  in  triumph, 
and  the  young  captain  gained  fresh  renown. 
Mention  was  made  in  the  official  diapatclies 
of  his  "  brilliant  dash,"  and  'Ziah  took  pains 
to  spread  the  news  how  the  captain  wormed 
hiB  way  out  of  a  close  quarter. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

ACKOSS  THE  OPEQUON. 

Early  in  September,  General  Sheridan 
completed  his  organization  of  the  army,  and 
was  ready  for  an  offensive  movement,  but 
Grant  was  not  so  ready  to  give  consent. 
If  the  army  fought  and  was  defeated,  it 
would  open  the  way  for  another  invasion  of 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  and  the  lieu- 
teuaiit-geueral  had  not  forgotten  Antietam 
and  Gettysburgh. 

The  war  must  not  again  be  carried  to 
Northern  soil. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  September,  however, 
the  Union  chieftains  met  at  Charleston,  and 
.Sheridan  unfolded  his  plans  and  explained 
all  the  points  he  had  gained  during  his  con- 
nection with  the  consolidated  army.  A 
good  deal  of  this  information  had  come  to 
him  through  'Ziah  Strout,  and  Grant  him- 
self knew  from  experience  that  the  scout 
was  a  man  who  seldom  made  mistakes. 

The  result  was  that  order,  given  in  the 
terse  fashion  peculiar  to  the  lieutenant- 
general,  which  expressed  so  much  in  few 
words. 

"Go  in!" 

So  said  Grant,  and  Sheridan  prepared  to 
execute  the  welcome  direction. 

The  Union  army  was  composed  of  the 
Sixth  Corps,  under  General  Wright,  the 
Nineteenth  under  Emory,  and  the  cavalry 
forces  of  Averill,  Merritt,  Wilson,  and  Tor- 
bett.  The  Eighth  Corps,  under  General 
Crook,  was  at  Summit  Point,  and  that,  too, 
was  to  be  brought  into  active         '-'" 


front  of  Berry  ville,  which  is  east  of  Win- 
chester, and,  in  order  to  reach  the  latter 
place,  it  must  march  through  a  country 
which  bristled  with  dangers. 

Between  Opequon  Creek  and  Winchester, 
was  Early's  army,  and  though  interior  to 
the  Union  army  in  point  of  numbers,  he  had 
many  a  wood  and  hill  where  a  stout  stand 
oould  be  made. 

It  was  a  hard  region  into  which  to  ven- 
ture, but  the  commanding  general  was  not 
the  man  to  be  dismayed  at  trifles.  He  de- 
termined to  advance,  and  few  there  were  of 
his  men  who  were  not  ready  to  follow  will- 
ingly where  he  led. 

On  the  eighteenth,  two  days  after  the  in- 
terview witli  General  Grant,  Sheridan  was 
informed  that  'Ziah  Strout  had  come  into 
oamp  in  a  fever  to  see  him ;  and  the  scout 
was  soon  admitted  to  his  presence. 

The  big  hand  of  the  swamp  man  moved  in 
an  a wk  ward  salute,  and  then  he  abruptly 
broke  the  silence. 

"  Hope  I  ain't  distarbed  you  in  any  way, 
gineral,  but  I  have  news  which  I  reckon  will 
please  you  like  sin." 

'Then  don't  monopolize  it  any  longer," 


said  Sheridan,  smiling.    "Out  with  it. 
"  Early  is   swingin'    his   shooters   1 
north.    He  is   chuckin'    'em  inter  his  left 


shooters   furder 


wing  as  a  boy  chucks  in  his  vittles, 
body  would  think  Bunker  Hill  was  full  o' 
diamonds  by  the  way  he  is  wrapping  about 
it." 

Sheridan  grew  interested  at  once.  When, 
a  little  before,  the  Confederate  general  had 
thrown  his  left  as  far  as  Bunker  Hill,  it 
begun  to  look  as  though  he  was  himself  con- 
sidering an  offensive  movement,  and 
'Ziah's  manner  showed  that  he  believed  the 
new  stale  of  affairs  to  be  of  importance. 

"  Tell  me  briefly  just  what  he  has  done," 
he  directed. 

"  Waal,  he  has  pushed  a  heavy  force  from 
Bunker  Hill  toward  Martinsburg,  an'  I 
opine  that  he  wants  to  feel  o'  our  forces. 
'Tain't  likely  he  means  to  desart  his  claim 
an'  leave  Winchester  unguarded." 

"No  ;  hut,  be  that  as  it  may,  the  signifl- 
oauoe  ol  this  movement,  so  far  as  we  are 
oonoemed,  lies  in  the  fact  that  he  is  weaken- 
ing bis  right  by  this  new  idea.  Good!  that 
is  ju»t  what  we  want.  If  I  don't  greatly 
inistkke,  Ut«  time  for  aotion  is  at  hand.    We 


must  cross  the  Opequon  at  once,  and  hurry 
onto  Winchester.  What  do  you  think  of 
the  idea  (" 

"First  class,  gineral,  first  class.  The  iron 
is  hot,  an'  now  is  the  time  for  strikin'." 

Little  more  needed  to  be  said.  Sheridan 
saw  his  opportunity,  and  seized  it  with  his 
usual  promptness.  'Ziah  was  sent  out  on  an- 
other scout,  and  activity  ran  all  along  the 
Union  lines.  They  were  to  move  early  in  the 
morning,  and  that  evening  they  were  put 
under  arms. 

Word  was  sent  to  Crook  to  join  the  main 
force  at  the  Opequan  ford,  while  Averill  and 
Torbert  were  to  maneuver  on  Sorlys  left 
sufficiently  to  engage  his  attention. 

At  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  for- 
ward movement  was  begun.  Wilson's  cav- 
alry led  the  way,  followed  by  the  Sixth  and 
Nineteenth  Corps  in  order,  and  the  Ope- 
quan was  forded  at  daylight. 

This  stream  lies  four  miles  east  of  Win- 
chester, and  between  the  two  points  are 
broken  and  wooded  hills  which  are  admir- 
ably adapted  for  defense. 

Along  this  road  hard  fighting  was  to  be 
expected,  for  in  no  other  place  could  Early 
make  a  stand  to  save  the  city. 

'Ziah  Strout  had  left  the  camp  half  an 
hour  ahead  of  Wilson,  and  he  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  the  ford  to  make  sure  that  the  way 
was  clear. 

All  was  peaceful  about  the  place;  and, 
after  some  scouting  on  both  sides,  he  await- 
ed the  arrival  of  the  army. 

Wilson's  men  came  up  silently  and  in 
good  order.  'Ziah  looked  at  them  admiring- 
ly as  they  appi  cached,  and  his  eyes  glis- 
tened. 

"Good  stock,  there,"  he  muttered,  "an' 
they  will  do  a  good  bit  o'  slashin'  afore  the 
day  is  ended." 

On  came  the  blue  riders.  The  creek  was 
safely  crossed.  Then  they  moved  swiftly 
ahead,  and  soon  neared  a  narrow  pass  where 
the  hills  frowned  on  either  side. 

'Ziah  looked  at  them  suspiciously,  and 
gave  a  word  of  caution.  If  the  enemy  were 
not  there  it  would  be  strange. 

They  were  there,  and  on  the  alert.  No  one 
could  fail  to  see  the  advantage  of  suoh  a 
region,  and  they  were  at  hand. 

It  was  their  first  showing  of  teeth,  and  a 
gallant  one,  too ;  but  the  cavalry  went  for- 
ward with  a  dash,  and  the  gorge  was  carried. 
Nor  did  they  stop  there. 

One  after  another,  each  obstacle  was  met 
and  removed  until  half  the  distance  to  Win- 
chester was  traveled. 

There  Wilson  awaited  for  his  comrades. 
The  Sixth  Corps  came  up  promptly,  but  the 
Nineteenth  had  been  unavoidably  delayed, 
and  it  was  full  nine  o'clock  before  the  line 
of  battle  was  formed. 

Position  was  taken  with  Emory  on  the 
right,  and  Wright  on  the  left,  the  latter 
having  Wilson  on  his  flank. 

Meanwhile,  Early  had  not  been  idle.  He 
saw  his  danger,  and  made  prompt  action  to 
avert  it. 

The  reconnoissance  to  Martmsbnrg  had 
been  repulsed  by  Averill,  and  then  these 
troops  were  hurried  back  toward  Win- 
chester, followed  by  the  Union  cavalry, 
which  at  once  formed  a  junction  with  Mer- 
ritt. 

Northwest  of  the  town  are  several  detach- 
ed hills,  and  upon  these  the  Confederate  left 
was  posted,  hovering  in  their  fortifleations 
like  grim  guardians  of  the  mture  of  the 
Southern  cause;  while  a  large  force  was 
thrown  forward  for  the  purpose  of  break- 
ing the  Union  line  at  the  proper  moment 
and  preventing  their  retreat. 

'Ziah  Strout,  finding  himself  without  oc- 
cupation at  this  time,  and  inclined,  as  usual, 
to  use  his  privilege  of  going  where  he 
pleased,  left  the  IJnion  center  and  moved 
along  the  rear  toward  Averill's  position. 

"I  b'lieve  I'd  like  ter  fight  with  them 
slashers  this  time,"  he  soliloquized.  "I 
sha'n't  look  so  shiny  as  they  do  in  their  good 
clothes,  but  I  reckon  I  kin  JigTit." 

The  scout  did  not  care  to  acknowledge  the 
I'eal  reason,  which  was  to  be  near  Captain 
Carrington. 

From  the  time  when  Sam,  then  a  boy,  had 
first  come  to  him  at  his  swamp  cabin,  he  had 
regarded  him  with  an  affectiou  which  had 
never  wavered  through  the  ^jassageof  years. 
Nothing  gave  him  more  pride  than  to  look 
upon  the  handsome  officer  in  his  uniform, 
and  he  expected  much  of  him. 

"  With  his  mind  dwelling  on  these  matters, 
he  was  striding  through  the  wood  in  his 
noiseless  way,  when  he  suddenly  came  upon 
a  singular  sceue. 

Two  men,  in  the  dress  of  Union  soldiers, 
were  seated  on  a  log,  and  engaged  in  a  game 


of  cards;  and  the  fact  was  so  remarkable  that 
'Ziah  was  astonished. 

He  was  given  little  time  for  reflection, 
however,  for  they  quickly  saw  him  in  turn 
and  suspended  their  playing. 

One  moment  they  looked,  and  he  saw  them 
mutter  to  themselves,  and  then  they  went 
coolly  on  with  their  game. 

'Ziah,  however,  was  not  disposed  to  leave  on 
so  short  an  acquaintance. 

"Hallo!"  he  said.  "What  are  you  doin' 
hyer?" 

"Playin' poker,"  one  of  them  answered.  - 
"Take  a  hand,  old  man?" 

"  The  game  ter  be  played  ter-day  is  battle,"  ■ 
retorted  the   scout.     "  Why  are   you  not  at 
the  front?    Don't  you  know  you  are  needed 
thar?    What  regiment  do  you  b'long  ter?" 

"Anything  else  yon  want  ter  know?" 
asked  the  man,  calmly  dealing  the  cards. 

"Yes,  thar  is.  I  want  ter  know  why  you 
are  not  with  the  rest  at  the  front." 

"  Take  et  out  in  wantin'.  Don't  you  worry 
about  us,  Mister  Stront,  or  whatever)  your 
name  is.  You  jest  tend  ter  yer  own  business 
an'  we  kin  look  out  fur  our'n.    Eh,  Ben?" 

"  That's  the  idee,"  the  second  man  replied. 

"It  ain't  the  idee,"  retorted  'Ziah.  "I 
don't  propose  ter  see  yon  chaps  loafln'  hyer 
when  there  is  work  ter  do.  Put  up  them 
keerds  an'  scoot  fur  your  places. ' ' 

The  first  speaker  swung  around  on  the  log 
and  faced  the  scout  defiantly. 

"  Look  ahyer,  Strout,  you're barkin'  up  the 
wrong  tree.  You  ax  what  regiment  we 
b'long  to.  We  don't  b'long  ter  any.  We  are 
free  rangers,  jest  like  you.  We  go  an'  come 
whar  we  please.    Eh,  Ben?" 

"  Right  you  be;  Dan,  was  the  prompt  re- 
sponse. 

"  More  nor  that ;  we  don't  allow  any  man 
ter  meddle  with  us.  Yon  hear  me,  mister? 
Ef  you  do,  trot  along  an'  mind  your  own 
business." 

"  Why  are  yon  in  uniform  ef  you  don't 
b'long  ter  the  army  ?"  was  the  suspicions  in- 
quiry. 

"  Waal,  yer  see  we  found  some  o'  the  boys 
dead  back  a  ways,  an'  as  we  thought 
our  help  might  be  needed,  we  swapped  out- 
fits with  them." 

The  words  gave  'Ziah  a  key  to  the  exact 
situation. 

These  men  were  vagabonds,  vagrants,  rob- 
bers of  the  dead,  and  the  like— aclaas  of  men 
all  too  apt  to  hang  on  the  rear  of  an  army, 
and  feast  like  vultures  when  there  is  food. 
The  uniforms  had  been  gained  by  robbery, 
and  no  doubt  there  was  a  stock  of  money  m 
their  pockets  obtained  the  same  way. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

WINCHESTER. 

"I  see,"  cried  'Ziah,  scornfully;  "you 
ain't  sojers;  that  is  very  clear.  You  are 
carrion  crows,  that  live  by  robbin'  the  dead. 
I  don't  know  any  words  mean  enough  ter 
describe  you.  Lord,  you  ought  ter  be  hung 
ter  these  trees,  an' I  have  half  a  mind  ter 
try  a  leetle  shootin'  on  you." 

"  Don't  try  it,"  said  Dan,  wamingly,  reach- 
ing for  the  rifle  near  his  back. 

But  'Ziah's  own  weapon  came  up  quickly, 
and  with  a  double  click  he  covered  the  fel- 
low's head. 

"Hold  up!"  he  sharply  said.  "  Ef  you 
teches  that  shooter,  out  go  your  brains.  You 
hear  me?  That's  right;  keep  quiet  and 
shady." 

Dan  and  Ben,  as  the  men  had  called  each 
other,  glared  at  him  fiercely. 

They  were  mad  enough  to  do  mischief,  but 
they  lacked  the  courage. 

"Lower  that  weepon,  you  old  fool,  or 
I'll " 

Dan  paused  in  his  hot  address. 

"  What'll  you  do?"  the  scout  grimly  asked. 

"  I'll  knock  out  your  brains." 

"  How'll  you  do  it?" 

The  robbers  glared  at  him  in  silence.  They 
had  the  will  to  kill  him,  but  they  knew  that 
one  movement  to  seize  their  own  weapons 
would  doom  them. 


rifle  an'  march  on.  We  don't  want  no  trou- 
ble." 

"Wait  a  bit,"  said 'Ziah,  steiulily.  "  I  ain't 
done  with  you  yit.  When  I  see  a  serpent,  I 
generally  crush  his  head.  You  two  fellers 
rise  up  an'  march  back  five  paces." 

The  robbers  demurred,  but  the  scout  was 
firm  as  a  rock.  He  punctuated  his  remarks 
by  tapping  his  rifle  breech,  and  after  some 
delay  his  order  was  obeyed. 

"Now,"  he  grimly  added,  "takoff  them 
uniforms  which  do  not  b'long  ter  you.  Un- 
dress!" 

Dan  uttered  a  snarl  of  rage.  The  order 
was  too  much  for  his  mental  gomposura,  aud 


THE  WA.R  LIBRARY. 


a  torrent  of  oaths  began  to  pour  from  his 
lips.  Ziali  interrupted  him  sternly.  He  had 
advanced  to  the  log,  and  with  both  (heir 
rifles  at  his  side  was  completely  master  of 
the  situation. 

"  Not  one  word,"  he  ordered.  "  Undress !" 

"We  won't,"  declared  Dan.  "We  ar'n't 
goin'  ter " 

"  Obey  or  swallerlead,"  tersely  interrupted 
the  scout. 

Ben,  who  was  the  weakest  of  the  two,  hur- 
riedly began  to  disrobe,  and  a  little  more 
persuasion  of  the  foregomg  kind  impressed 
Dan  so  strongly  that  he  followed  suit. 

The  casting  off  of  the  uniforms  showed  that 
they  had  another  suit  underneath,  and 
though  these  were  citizens'  garments  and 
well  advanced  toward  the  ragpicker's  stand- 
ard, the  change  left  them  more  appropri- 
ately clad  than  before. 

They  were  evil,  hang-dog  looking  fellows, 
and  'Ziah  was  iawardly  chuckling  at  his 
victory. 

Having  gained  his  point  he  picked  up  both 
rifles,  threw  the  uniforms  over  his  arm,  and 
resumed  his  way. 

"Hold  on!"  said  Dan.  "Give  us  back  our 
rifles." 

"Nary  time.  Men  like  you  don't  need 
'em.    Keep  cool  an'  let  your  wool  grow." 

Once  more  Dan  indulged  in  his  vicious 
habit  of  swearing,  and  then  started  after 
'Ziah,  but  when  the  latter  wheeled  and  raised 
his  gun  the  scavenger  abruptly  retreated. 

The  scout  went  on,  chuckling  at  the  way 
he  had  served  the  two  ruffians.  In  all  the 
records  of  military  life  there  is  nothing^  so 
repulsive  as  the  class  represented  by  Dan 
anil  Ben.  They  hang  upon  the  rear  of  an 
army,  when  they  are  about  at  all,  and  after 
a  battle  may  be  seen  moving  among  the 
dead  to  secure  available  plunder. 

These  two  wretches,  who  will  again  appear 
in  our  story,  were  Northern  born  and  bred, 
one  being  from  New  England  and  the  other 
from  one  of  the  Middle  States,  and  their  rec- 
ord was  a  dark  one.  They  had  flourished  as 
bounty  jumpers  and  wholesale  robbers  for 
some  time,  and  their  luck  was  such  that  their 
first  check  was  from  'Ziah. 

Not  far  did  the  latter  carry  his  plunder, 
but,  finding  a  hollow  log,  he  shoved  the 
rifles  and  uniforms  inside  and  hastened  on 
to  join  Averill's  command. 

He  was  yet  some  distance  from  that  place 
when  he  was  surprised  at  meeting  Captain 
Carrington  in  the  wood.  The  latter  was  on 
his  way  to  gam  word  with  Sheridan,  and  as 
his  business  would  admit  of  no  delay,  'Ziah 
turned  back  and  accompanied  him,  going  as 
fast  on  foot  as  Sam's  horse  could  move 
through  the  underbrush. 

Thus  they  arrived  at  the  Union  center 
just  as  the  first  real  assault  was  made. 

Sheridan  had  perceived  that  the  Confed 


hind,  and  they  started  up  the  ascent  with 
an  impetuous  rush. 

A  teiTible  fire  at  once  greeted  them  from 
the  batteries  beyond  the  pass.  Shot  and 
•hell  whizzed  over  their  heads  oi-  tore  through 
their  ranks,  and  brave  men  fell  thickly  by 
the  way,  but  those  who  survived  were  not 
made  of  common  clay,  and  they  pressed 
gallantly  on. 

They  struck  Early's  center  with  resistless 
force,  and  his  first  line  was  carried  amid 
cheers  from  the  assailants. 


pass  through  which  the  boys  in  blue  had 
gust  swept. 

The  scout  plucked  off  his  old  cap  and 
waved  it  wildly  in  the  air.  He  cheered  at 
the  top  of  his  voice,  and  then  added  : 

"Ah!  ain't  it  a  big  day'?  Hurrah  for  the 
screamin'  eagle!  Cavalry  Sam,  could  your 
slashers  hev  did  better!  Oh  !  they  are  gist  a 
drivinthem  critters  home." 

"  It  was  well  done,"  said  Sam,  with  enthu- 
siasm. "It was  very  well  done,  buttheendis 
not  yet.  Early  is  wide  awake  and  will  soon 
show  his  talons." 

"Not  to-day,"  said  the  scout.  "The  end 
i  already  begun,  an'  you  will  jest  see  them 
all  go  ter  pieces.  Our  boys  know  their  busi- 
ness an' " 

'Ziah  paused  abruptly.  There  was  some 
sort  of  a  commotion  at  the  front  of  the  Union 
lines.  They  seemed  to  waver,  but  the  cause 
was  still  uncertain.  Then,  from  behind 
rook  and  tree  came  the   Confederates  in  a 


counter  charge 
hurled  upon  th 
and  Grover. 

"  By  heavens !  they  are  in  serious  danger," 
said  Sam.    "Did  I  not  tell  you  Early  would 

show  his  talons?    Worse  than  that ■  Ha! 

yes,  our  men  waver  and  turn.  They  will  be 
driven  hack,  and  if  the  Confederates  seize 
this  pass,  woe  lie  to  our  cause!" 

The  boys  in  sr:iy  were  indeed  taking  their 
turn,  and  tlim  took  it  in  a  convincing  way. 
Their  wild  cliarge  beat  back  the  Union 
troops,  who  turned  and  began  a  disorderly 
dash  for  the  pass,  while  a  heavy  fire  from 
the  flank  dropped  men  at  every  step. 

"  Lord !  lord  !"  muttered  'Ziah,  in  conster- 
nation, "the  day  is  lost,  sure  as  sin!" 


Then,  suddenly,  a  dozen  brave  men  *  turned 
and  faced  the  enemy.  It  seemed  as  though 
they  must  be  speedily  swept  away,  but  their 
action  nerved  Sam  Carrington  to  action. 

Throwing  up  his  arms,  he  sprang  forward 
to  meet  the  flying  troops,  and  his  voice  rang 
out  clearly. 

"Back,  men,  back!"  he  said.  "One  bold 
stand  here  and  the  day  is  saved !" 

Some  there  were  who  heard  and  obeyed 
him,  and,  with  'Ziah  and  himself,  took  posi- 
tion near  the  first  brave  men,  and  the  num- 
ber began  to  increase  rapidly. 

At  tliat  moment,  two  guns  of  Captain 
Bradbury's  Maine  Battery  were  placed  in 
position  in  the  gap,  and  turned  upon  the 
Confederates,  and  a  moment  later  the  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-first  New  York  regi- 
ment poured  in  a  telling  volley  from  a  wood 
at  the  enemy's  rear. 

All  this  created  a  strong  ripple  in  favor  of 
the  Unionists,  and  the  broken  lines  rapidly 
formed. 

A  deadly  volley  of  musketry  checked  and 
wavered  the  boys  in  gray,  and  then  the  men 
in  the  pass  cheered  again  as  the  Confederates 
broke  and  fied. 

The  line  of  battle  was  reformed,  and  was 
really  stronger  than  ever.  The  men  had  not 
suffered  any  paralyzing  loss  in  numbers, 
and  their  success  had  given  them  courage 
and  ardor. 

Once  more  General  Wrigh*  had  the  Union 
left,  flanked  by  Wilson's  cavalry,  Emory  the 
center  and  Crook  the  right,  with  Merritt 
and  Averill  at  the  northern  extremity,  and 
not  much  time  was  lost  in  again  moving. 

Then  ensued  the  heat  of  the  battle.  Gen- 
eral Early  had  chosen  his  second  position 
well,  and  was  resolved  to  hold  it,  for  if  he 
was  again  driven  back  it  would  be  to  a  point 
unpleasantly  near  Winchester. 

For  hours  the  thunder  of  battle  awoke 
the  echoes  around  the  old  town.  Men 
fought  and  men  died,  gallant  deeds  were 
performed,  and  the  sturdy  soldiers  grew 
dark  with  smoke  and  dust.  This  continued 
until  four  o'clock,  when  there  was  a  general 
movement  forward. 

Cavalry  Sam  and  'Ziah  had  returned  to 
the  Union  right,  and  were  doing  their  parts ; 
and  when  horse  and  foot  were  hurled  on 
Early's  left  they^went  with  the  tumultuous 
rush. 

Assailed  thus,  and  heavily  stricken  on 
their  center,  the  Confederates  broke  and 
fled,  stopping  only  when  they  reached  the 
fortified  heights  in  the  very  teeth  of  Win- 
chester. 

It  was  during  this  charge  that  Sam  Car- 
rington saw  a  startling  sight. 

The  enemy's  left  had  began  to  waver, 
when  a  regiment  in  gray  suddenly  showed  a 
more  resolute  front.  A  young  officer  in  the 
dress  of  a  colonel  had  dashed  along  their 
front,  regardless  of  musket  balls,  and  as  he 
waved  his  sword  the  men  responded  by  a 
cheer. 

"Up  and  at 'em,  boys!"  shouted  a  Union 
officer.     "It  is  Peurock's  regiment!" 

Sam  had  not  needed  the  assertion.  De- 
spite the  lapse  of  years,  he  had  already  re- 
cognized the  young  colonel,  and  he  knew  it 
was  the  Alfred  Penrock  of  the  old  days. 

Then  came  the  Union  charge,  and  the  regi- 
ment in  gray  was  swept  from  sight,  many  of 
them  going  down  never  to  rise. 

What  became  of  the  gallant  colonel  he 
could  not  tell,  for  the  retreat  had  become 
almost  ajpanic. 

The  heights  did  not  long  stay  the  boys  in 
blue.  Once  more  they  struck  heavily,  the 
fortifications  were  carried,  and  Early's  army 
went  hastily  through  the  town  in  retreat, 
their  faces  toward  Strasburg. 

The  victorious  army  continued  the  pursuit 
until  dark,  and  the  spoUs  of  war  were  many. 
Early  did  not  halt  until  he  reached  Fisher's 
T  '  '^^'''J,'''    KIgbjr,  and  men    of   the  Twenty-fonrth 


Hill— a  position  so  strong  that  it  was  advis- 
able to  make  some  delay  before  attacking. 

On  the  hands  of  the  tJnionists  were  many- 
prisoners,  several   pieces    of   artillery,    and 

battle-flags. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


dilly  streets,    in    Winchester,    from    which 
place  he  sent   his  famous   _ 
Government  at  Washington : 

"We  have  just  sent  the  enemy  whirling  through 
Winchester,  and  are  after  them  to-morrow.'" 

During  the  last  of  the  battle,  'Ziah  Strout 
had  been  riding  with  Averill's  "slashers." 
It  had  been  easy  to  get  a  horse,  for  many  of 
them  had  lost  their  riders,  and  from  that 
time  the  scout  was  always  near  to  Sam  Car- 
rington. Whether  fighting  or  galloping  in 
pursuit,  he  watched  his  old-time  friend 
closely,  and  ever  and  anon  a  chuckle  broke 
from  his  lips. 

"  Ef  ever  a  man  was  made  fur  a  soldier, 
it's  him,"  he  said,  with  pardonable  pride. 

That  night,  he  sought  him,  as  they  rested 
after  their  severe  work. 

"  Et's  been  a  good  day,"  said  the  scout, 
placidly ;  "  a  proper  good  day.  We've  done 
more  fur  the  Shenandoah  to-day  than  has 
been  done  fur  years  afore.  We've  captered 
the  whole  o'  Winchester,  an'  the  eend  is  not 
yet." 

"It  will  take  desperate  fighting  to  capture 
Fisher's  Hill.  You  and  I  know  that  ground 
well,  'Ziah,  and  we  can  command  the  judg- 
ment of  Early  in  taking  the  position." 

"  We  must  fight  like  sin  ter  captur'  it ;  but 
I  reckon  we  are  the  boys  ter  do  it.  Lordl 
there  has  ben  some  pritty  fightin'  to-day." 

Sam  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  when 
he  spoke  it  was  slowly. 

"  The  war  is  taking  us  very  near  the  old 
home,  'Ziah.  It  would  not  be  at  all  strange 
if  we  tramped  over  the  very  acres  we  once 
trod  when  peace  was  through  the  land." 

'  Very  likely  we  will ;  an'  ef  so,  you  will 
see  many  o'  the  old  places  left  intact.  War- 
burton's  house  still  stands,  an'  so  does 
Alfred  Penrock's." 

"  I  would  like  to  see  Augusta  and  Vida." 

"Don't  see  why  you  can't,  fur  we  shall 
cipher  around  hyer  fur  some  time  ter  come, 
I  reckon." 

At  that  moment  a  messenger  came  to  sum- 
mons them  to  a  superior  officer,  and  they 
went  promptly. 

They  were  wanted  for  a  scout,  A  negro 
had  just  come  in,  and  reported  that  a  body 
of  the  enemy  was  being  formed  on  a  wooded 
knoll  some  miles  away,  and  though  the  re- 
port was  not  credited,  it  was  advisable  to  in- 
vestigate. 

Our  friends  had  been  chosen  because  the 
country  was  so  well  known  to  them. 

They  were  soon  in  the  saddle,  and  riding 
toward  the  point  of  suspicion,  and  the  in- 
tervening space  was  covered  in  a  short  time. 
When  the  base  of  the  ridge  was  reached  they 
dismounted,  concealed  their  horses  in  a 
thicket,  and  went  forward  on  foot. 

There  was  no  necessity  for  them  to  go  in 
company,  so  they  separated  in  order  to  do 
their  work  more  speedily.  Neither  of  them 
expected  to  find  auything  more  than  a  few 
stragglers  on  the  ridge. 

Let  us  follow  Captain  Carrington.  He  had 
crossed  the  hill  once  or  twice  in  the  past, 
when  he  was  a  boy,  and  he  had  a  pretty 
clear  idea  of  the  place;  and,  assuming  the 
secret  ways  he  had  learned  years  before 
from  'Ziah,  he  glided  through  the  bushes 
and  around  rocks  with  scarcely  a  sound  to 
betray  his  movements. 

His  half  of  the  northern  side  of  the  ridge 
was  soon  explored,  and  nothing  suspicious 
found. 

By  that  time  he  was  at  the  western  ex- 
tremity, and  he  at  once  rounded  the  point 

— „ nd.  he  and  '7inh  wnnlH  o^ 

join  each  other. 

Not  many  yards  had  he  gone,  however, 
when  he  heard  the  sound  of  voices.  He  had 
just  entered  a  group  of  pines,  and  the  speak- 
ers were  directly  ahead. 

By  that  time  Sam  knew  that  no  army  was 
forming  near  there;  but  it  might  be  well  to 
look  after  these  unknown  parties. 

He  crept  forward  on  his  hands  and  knees 
the  droppings  from  the  pine  branches  being 


The  night  was  but  moderately  dark, 
though  it  would  have  been  Impenetrably  bo 
in  the  pines  had  it  not  been  for  one  cauae. 
In  a  little  space  between  the  towering  traes 


12 


THE  WAR  LIBflARY. 


half  a  dozen  men  were  collected  in  a  group, 
and  all  smoking,  and  by  tbe  lirefly-like 
gleams  thus  produced,  he  could  see  them 
plainly  enough  for  his  purpose. 

Evidently  he  had  arrived  just  in  the  nick 
of  time,  for  the  first  words  he  heard  were  of 
importance. 

"\ou're  a  good  feller,  Jake  Shelley,  a 
mighty  good  feller,  and  I'd  like  to  stop  with 
you  longer,  but  business  is  business,  you 
know,  and  these  dispatches  must  go  to  Gfen- 
eral  Lee.  That's  all  that  can  save  Early's 
army." 

"Then  I  won't  keep  you,  but  you  must 
take  a  bottle  of  this  wine  with  you.  Seeh 
stuff  don't  grow  on  every  bush,  an'  I'm 
right  glad  that  ole  fool  in  Winchester  was 
so  careful  on't.  Drink  agin,  an'  bp  happy, 
my  good  man." 

"Drink  it  is,  Jake,  early  an'  often.  I'm 
glad  I  stumbled  onto  you.    Here  goes !" 

A  gurglingsound  followed,  and  Sam  begun 
to  comprehend  a  good  deal  of  the  state  of 
affairs.  One  man  in  froutothim  was  a  mes- 
senger started  by  General  Kavly  to 
warn  Lee,  perhaps  to  ask  for  reinfoi-ce- 
ments,  and  another  was  Jacob  Shelley. 
Doubtless  the  others  were  followers  of  the 
guerrilla. 

In  point  of  fact,  the  villainous  Shelley  had 
seized  his  opportunity  to  do  some  plunder- 
ing in  Winchester  that  afternoon,  and  he 
and  his  men  were  filling  themselves  with 
wine  when  the  dispatch-bearer  chanced 
upon  them,  Beinji  an  old  acquaintance,  he 
had  received  an  invitation  to  stop,  and, 
already,  he  had  taken  more  than  was  good 
for  him. 

While  he  drank,  Sam  was  thinking  rapid- 
ly. Oue  of  these  men  had  dispatches  of  im- 
portance. If  they  reached  Lee,  good  miglit 
come  to  the  Confederate  cause;  if  they  did 
not,  it  would  be  to  Sheridan's  great  advau- 

"They  must  be  stopped. 

A  little  later  the  messenger  prepared  to 
depart.  He  said  good-by,  eflueively,  to  Jake 
Shelley,  and  then  mounted  his  horse,  which 
had  been  tied  near  at  hand,  and  started 
away  from  the  guerrilla  camp. 

Mean  while,  Sam  had  crawled  away  from 
the  same  locality  and  was  walking  slowly 
along  the  ridge.  He  intended  to  attack  the 
messenger,  but  it  was  necessary  to  allow 
him  time  to  ride  beyond  Shelley's  hearin;:. 
That  much  of  the  plan  was  not  difBcult. 
The  way  was  too  rough  for  trotting,  and 
the  Unionist  had  only  to  watch  his  man  and 
keep  just  in  advance. 

Anon,  as  the  horseman  was  passing  .. 
thicket,  a  man  arose  from  the  cover  of  the 
bushes  and  grasped  his  rein,  and  at  the  same 
time  a  revolver  was  thrust  forward  so  that 
it  covered  his  breast. 

"Haiti"  said  Cavalry  Sam,  promptly. 
•'  You  are  my  prisoner,  sir,  and  you  had  bet- 
t«r  take  it  coolly." 

It  was  good  advice,  but  the  messenger  did 
not  seem  inclined  to  obey.  His  lips  trained 
an  oath  aud  his  hand  dropped  on  his  saber. 


at  to  draw  a  weapon  and,  by  my 
life,  I'll  shoot  you." 

"  He  means  busineess  an'  I'm  hyer  ter  back 
him,"  said  another  voice,  and  'Ziah  glided 
forward. 

"  Who  the  devil  are  you  ?"  roared  the  mes- 
senger. 

"  Not  qiiite  so  loud ;  it's  not  safe  for  you. 
Who  are  we'/  Well,  we  are  Sheridan's 
scouts,  and  you  are  wanted  at  camp.  Will 
you  surrender  quietly  ?" 

For  answer,  the  man  attempted  to  draw 
his  saber,  but  Sam  leaped  forward,  caught 
him  by  his  arm  and  collar,  and  in  a  moment 
more  dragged  him  from  his  saddle. 

Then  the  work  was  quickly  done.  Laying 
hold  of  him  together;  they  bound  him  up  in 
quick  order.  He  kicked  and  swore,  as  in 
duty  bound,  but  the  tide  was  against  him, 
and  he  was  soon  helpless  as  a  babe. 

'Ziah  did  not  know  why  he  was  wanted, 
but  he  entered  heartily  into  Sara's  plans. 
Having  rendered  their  prisoner  helpless, 
they  again  seated  him  on  his  horse  and 
turned  their  faces  toward  the  top  of  the 
ridge. 

It  was  crossed,  their  own  horses  secured, 
and  the  return  to  camp  begun.  No  adven- 
ture occurred  by  the  way,  and  at  an  early 
hour  the  dispatch-bearer  was  landed  at 
headquarters. 

Hi8  papers  proved  to  be  of  importance. 
They  gave  an  account  of  the  recen  t  battle, 
together  with  valuable  figures,  and  besought 
ua  from  iSeneral  Lee. 

On  the  whole,   the  capture   was  a  lucky 


Sheridan  kept  his  promise  to  be  after 
Early  as  soon  as  possible,  and  on  the  twenty- 
second  he  moved  on  Fisher's  Hill.  Every 
one  expected  hard  fighting  before  the  place 
was  carried,  for  it  was  oue  admirably  adapt- 
ed for  defense. 

Lying  at  the  mouth  of  Strasburg  Valley, 
its  base  washed  by  one  fork  of  the  Shenan- 
doah River,  it  is  between  the  North  Moun- 
tain and  Massanutten  ranges,  and  nature 
had  done  all  that  was  possible  for  the  Con- 
federates. 

Sheridan  found  Early's  army  with  its  right 
strongly  intrenched  at  this  place,  and  its  left 
leaching  as  far  as  North  Mountain.  He  saw 
his  chance,  and  improved  it. 

Crook's  corps  was  sent  to  gain  the  rear  of 
the  weak  left,  and  Wright  aud  Emory  ad- 
vanced against  the  front  of  the  left  and 
center. 

Averill's  cavalry  had  been  thrown  for- 
ward near  the  base  of  North  Mountain,  and 
Carrington  and  'Ziah  had  no  doubt  but  that 
they  were  to  see  the  enemy  nwept  from  their 
new  position. 

They  had  given  a  good  deal  of  valuable  in- 
formation, enabling  the  Union  leaders  to 
work  to  good  advantage,  and  the  recent  vic- 
tory at  Winchester  had  filled  every  man 
with  enthusiasm. 

Hostilities  began  in  earnest  at  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternooii. 

Under  cover  of  an  attack  from  the  cavalry, 
the  Union  loiitrneii  swept  forward  in  an  im- 
petuous assault  on  the  enemy's  left,  and 
North  Mountain  was  carried  with  a  rush, 
and  the  ( 'oiilrderatrs  swept  away. 

At  the  sainr  time  the  whole  front  had  been 
assail. -d,  and  even  Fisher's  Hill,  with  its  in- 
11.  iiiliinruts,  proved  of  no  avail. 

Tlif  strong'  works  were  carried,  the  men  in 
may  driven  back,  forced  to  retreat  precipi- 
tately ;  aud  then  ensued  another  race  up  the 
valley. 

They  were  followed  in  force  to  Port  Re- 
public, and  by  cavalry  to  Staunton,  but  at 
tliat  point  they  found  refuge  in  the  Blue 
Ridge  mountains,  and  were  temporarily 
saved. 

The  war  was  booming  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  however,  and  glad  news  flashed 
along  the  Northern  wires. 


CHAPTER  XrV. 

IN  THE  SADDLE. 

After  these  last  engagements,  Sheridan  and 
his  entire  army  marched  down  the  valley  to 
execute  an  order  given  by  his  superior  offi- 
cer that "  nothing  be  left  to  in vite  the  enemy 
to  return;"  and  that  the  order  was  well  exe- 
cuted is  evidenced  by  his  official  report.  He 
says: 

"  We  have  deBtroyed  over 
with  wheat,  hay,  and  farnii 


This  compact  sentence  has  more  import- 
ance thau  is  at  first  perceptible;  for  where 
crops  grow  and  are  harvested,  there  are 
men,  aud  no  man  likes  to  stand  by  and  see 
the  fruits  of  his  toil  consumed  by  the  fire- 
fiend. 

Added  to  the  troubles  from  Early's  army, 
which,  though  broken,  was  not  spirit-crush- 
ed, the  Unionists  were  continually  beset  by 
the  people.  To  quote  again  from  Sheridan's 
report : 

"  Every  train,  every  small  party,  and  every  straspler, 
had  been  bushwhaclted  t>y  the  people  :  many  of  whom 
have  protection  papers." 

Wherever  the  Union  raiders  moved,  hostile 
eyes  were  upon  them. 

Men  hid  in  swamps  and  amid  rocky  hills, 
ready  to  do  what  mischief  they  could,  and  it 
was  no  rare  thing  for  a  solitary  rifle-shot  to 
echo  out  on  the  air,  perhaps  sendiug  death 
to  a  raider,  after  which  the  concealed  marks- 
man would  flee  or  hide. 

So  much  in  explanation  of  what  is  to  fol- 
low. 

Both  Generals  Sheridan  and  Averill  had 
come  to  think  very  well  of  Sam  Carrington. 
To  his  knowledge  of  the  country,  he  added 
the  dashing  bravery  which  was  a  notable 
characteristic  of  both  those  great  cavalry 
leaders,  and  though  he  was  a  Virginian  by 
birth,  they  had  already  seen  his  devotion  to 
the  Union  cause  sufficiently  tested. 

Thus  it  was  that,  while  making  the  mem- 
orable swoop  through  the  valley,  Averill  one 
day  gave  fifty  men  to  Cavalry  Sam,  and  in- 
structed him  to  ride  to  the  plantation  of  a 
man  named  JEager,  and  apply  the  torch  to 
his  barn 


a  smaller  force,  but  they  had  been  beaten  ofl 
by  bushwhackers  with  severe  loss. 

Carrington,  riding  at  the  head  of  his  force, 
with  'Ziah  Strout  by  his  side,  found  plenty 
of  food  for  reflection. 

"This  move  will  bring  me  very  near  the 
old  home,"  he  said,  to  the  scout. 

"  Et  will,  sure  as  sin.  Eager's  is  about 
three  mile,  as  the  crow  flies,  from  all  the  old 
places— my  cabin  in  the  swamp,  your  old 
house,  and  Warburton's." 

"'My  old  home.' you  should  say.  I  am 
told  that  not  a  stick  is  left  of  the  house." 

"  I'm  afeerd  that  Warburton's  will  go  the 
same  way." 

"  Not  by  the  will  of  oiu-  leaders.  We  have 
orders  to  spare  those  buildings,  thank 
Heaven." 

"Good  enough.    But  why?" 

"There  are  several  reasons.  Vida  War- 
burton  is  known  to  be  loyal ;  nothing  of  im- 
portance has  been  harvested  this  year,  and 
there  are  no  males  about  the  place,  except 
two  or  threfe  negroes  who  have  clung  to  tne 
family  through  all  their  troubles.  There  ig 
little  there  to  invite  our  men." 

"  I  heerd  that  old  Eager  was  killed  at 
Fisher's  Hill.    Is  that  so -." ' 

"Yes;  he  was  shot  dead  in  the  intrench- 
ments.  He  was  the  last  of  the  family,  which 
makes  me  less  reluctant  to  do  the  work  we 
now  have  in  liand.  It  seems  that  a  gang  of 
bushwhackers  have  taken  possession  ot  his 
old  house  and  are  trying  to  live  in  clover.  It 
will  be  our  work  to  drive  them  away,  and 
then  fire  the  barn." 

"  That's  ea.sy  done." 

Sam  relapsed  into  silence. 

It  would  lie  odd  if  the  events  cf  Jlienext 
few  days  did  not  in  some  way  bring  him  in 
coutact  with  the  Warburton  sisters;  indeed, 
he  fully  intended  to  see  them  if  duty  would 
permit. 

How  he  would  be  received  was  uncertain. 
Augusta  and  he  had  always  been  good 
friends  before  till- liegiiiiiing  of  the  war;  in 


fact,  he  knew  In 
closer  tie,  and  hf 
own  minds  ran  in 
first  gun  at  Fort 


had  hoped  for  a 
-urc  but  what  their 
(■  channel  until  the 
separated  them  so 


widely. 
As  for  Vida,  who  must  now  be  a  young 


of  warning  to  Sam  when  he  was  menaced  by 
the  rioters. 

Still,  many  years  had  passed— years  of  war, 
trouble,  change  and  hardship— and  he  was 
not  certain  how  the  ladies  would  feei  toward 
him. 

In  due  time  the  little  band  emerged  from 
a  wood,  and  the  Eager  house  a  hundred 
yards  distant.  In  times  of  peace  it  had  been 
a  prosperous  place.  The  owner  had  been 
frugal  even  to  penuriousness,  and  the  dol- 
lars had  gathered  swiftly  in  his  hands;  but 
war  had  stricken  the  plantation,  its  master 
was  numbered  among  the  dead  of  Fisher's 
Hill,    and    men  .        . 

th 


111,    and    men     were    at  hand    to   apply 

e  torch  to  the  building  which  held  the 
nay  and  gi'ain. 

To  all  appearances  barn  and  house  were 
deserted ;  not  even  a  dog,  that  feature  of 
all  Southern  buildings,  was  visible;  but 
Captain  Carrington  was  not  so  sure  that  they 
had  the  place  to  themselves. 

The  bushwhackers  had  been  there  a  few 
hours  before,  and  though  it  was  probable 
they  had  been  wise  enough  to  take  them- 
selves out  of  danger's  way,  there  was  noth- 
ing sure  about  it. 

Barn  and  house  were  fifty  yards  apart,  and 
the  boys  in  blue  marched  at  once  toward  the 
latter  and  halted  a  few  paces  away.  Then 
Sam  dismounted,  went  to  the  door,  and 
rapped  sharply. 

No  answer  was  returned;  no  sound  was 
audible,  except  that  made  by  his  own  move- 
ments. 

Twice  he  repeated  the  summons,  and  then 
tried   the  door,  but  it  was  fastened  on  the 

"  Bust  it  in,"  suggested  'Ziah. 

"  We  will  try  the  windows  first.  I  do  not 
like  to  do  any  further  damage  than  is  neces- 
sary." 

"  Then  why  not  leave  thiUiouse  alone  an* 
fire  the  barn  ter  onct?" 

"  Because  there  may  be  men  within  the 
house  who  would  put  out  the  fire  as  soon  as 
we  left.  Go  around  to  the  left,  'Ziah,  and  I 
will  meet  you  on  the  opposite  side." 

They  separated  aud  went  in  search  of  un- 
fastened windows.  'Ziah  found  everything 
tightly  closed,  but  as  he  did  not  meet  Sam 
at  the  rear  he  concluded  he  had  had  better 
luck,  and  went  on  to  find  him. 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


The  captain  was  not  at  the  western  end, 
however,  and  when  'Ziah  turned  the  next 
corner  the  men  sat  idlv,  on  their  horses 
and  their  leader  were  invisible. 

"Whar's  Captain  Carrington  ?"  he  asked, 
in  surprise. 

"Went  around  that  way  a  minute  ago," 
said  one  of  the  men,  pointing  as  he  spoke. 

"  Ain't  you  seed  him  seuce  ?" 

•'No." 

The  scout  retraced  his  steps.  Everything 
was  as  he  had  first  found  it,  and  he  again 
made  the  circuit  without  Unding  the  missing 
man. 

"  Blamed  ef  it  ain't  queer,"  said  'Ziah. 
"  Hyer,  two  or  three  o'  you  critters  hop 
down  an"  help  me.  Captain  Sam  must  have 
gone  in.  though  he  did  it  in  a  mysterious 
way.  Trot  uruuud  the  old  ark  an'  try  ev'ry 
winder.  " 

Till!  direction  was  promptly  obeyed,  but 
the  hlueioata  found  the  house  securely  fas- 
tened at  every  point,  and  when  they  met 
they  looked  at  Strout,  inquiringly. 

■'Summutis  wrong,"  he  tersely  said.  "The 
eap'n  has  gone  inside,  but  I'm  mightily 
afeerd  he  didn't  go  in  good  order." 

"  Mebbe  he  fastened  the  winder  behind 
him  for  a  joke,"  suggested  one  of  the  caval- 
rymen. 

"  Bah !  that  ain't  his  way.  Hyer,  you 
slashers,  put  your  shoulders  agin  the  door 
an'  we'll  bust  her  in." 

The  tlrst  part  of  the  order  was  obeyed,  but 
their  united  efforts  failed  to  move  the  door. 
It  w'js  of  good  material  and  seemed  remark- 
ably; well  secured  on  the  other  side. 

'Ziah  became  angry.  The  fear  was  strong 
in  his  mind  that  bushwhackers  were  inside 
the  house,  and  that  Sam  was  their  prisoner; 
and,  raising  his  rifle,  he  shattered  glass  and 
sash  of  the  nearest  window,  and  the  way  was 


hung  limply  on  the  inside,  but 
one  wrench  tore  it  down  and  he  saw  an 
empty  room.  Looking  around,  he  motioned 
to  twoothei"  men  to  join  the  four  already  iu 
his  service,  and  one  after  the  other  they 
entered  through  the  breach, 

"Keep  your  irons  ready,  boyees"  cau- 
tioned the  scout,  "fur  I'm  e'enamost  sure 
we  shall  have  a  brush.  Thar's  grays  inside 
es  Bure  as  shootin'." 

Tet,  as  they  moved  from  room  to  room, 
only  the  same  sight  met  their  view — scantily 
furnished  apartments   and   no  human  ten 


sign  of  Cavalry  Sam  or  the  bushwhackers. 

"  They  ain't  here,"  said  one  of  thesoldiers, 
blankly. 

"You  furgit  the  sutler,"  said  'Ziah,  grimly. 
"  Thar's  a  lamp;  we  will  have  a  light  an'  go 
down." 


I  affair,  only  served  to  make  the 
fact  more  apparent. 

One  or  two  of  the  soldiers  showed  a  dispo- 
sition to  act  as  rear  gurds,  but  the  scout, 
though  fully  convinced  that  trouble  was  at 
hand,  was  not  a  man  to  shrink  from  dark- 
ness. 

His  actual  courage  was  not  then  tested. 
Investigation  showed  an  ordinary  cellar,  but 
it  failed  to  show  signs  that  any  human  being 
except  themselves  had  been  there  for  some 
time. 

'Ziah  paused,  when  the  search  was  com- 
pleted, and  looked  blankly  at  his  compan- 
ions. 

"  Wal,  by  thunder!"  he  ejaculated. 

"There's  nobody  here,"  the  bluecoat 
slowly  said. 

"Then,  where  is  Captain  Carrington?"  a 
second  man  asked. 

" That's  what  I  want  ter  know,"  said  the 
scout,  quickly.  "  Have  any  o'  you  slashers 
an  idee  ?  Men  o'  his  build  don't  vanish  inter 
thin  smoke  nor  sink  inter  the  'arth.  Whar 
is  Cavalry  Sam  ? " 

It  was  a  very  pertinent  question,  but  one 
not  easily  answered.  His  disappearance 
smacked  somewhat  of  the  marvelous,  and 
theories  were  not  plentiful. 

At  that  moment,  however,  the  house 
seemed  almost  shaken  by  a  tremendous 
knocking  at  the  door,  a  sharp  halloo!  was 
add.'d,  and  Stront's  face  brightened. 

"  He's  back,  sure  as  sm,"  was  his  com- 
ment. 


gled  with  renewed  shouts,  and  'Ziah  ran  to 
the  broken  window  with  a  fresh  fear  assail- 
ing him. 

The  outside  scene  had  changed  materialljf. 
The  Mweooats  were  no  longer  visible,  but  un 


CHAPTER  XV. 

CLOSE     QUARTERS. 

The  sight  startled   and  amazed  Amaziah 

for  a  moment,  but  lie  wns  not  long  in  com- 

hci'd  the  kii.i.luri-  ;it  t'"-  il'icr  niiil  the  first 
slicMits,  and  it  •»  ;i^  '  'ill  "Hi  1  li:n  I  lie  bluecoats 
had    liccii    snrpii.-c'i    ■.•.,:,l    'tnvni   off  by  a 

Even  then,  he  could  "hcar'^the  report  of 
muskets  off  at  the  west,  and  he  knew  the 
Union  men  were  in  rapid  retreat. 

He  swept  his  handful  of  men  back  from 
the  window. 

"Keep  out  of  sight!"  he  ordered.  "The 
enemy  may  not  know  anybody  is  inside,  an' 
as  we  can't  whip  'em  we  will  try  theeffect  o' 
hiding." 

He  went  hurriedly  to  the  western  window, 
and,  as  he  had  expected,  saw  the  Unionists 
in  retreat,  closely  followed  by  the  Conted- 


stayed  by  the  house  were  not  needed  for  the 
pursuit. 

If  'Ziah  really  expected  tbem  to  leave  the 
house  unnoticed,  he  was  soon  undeceived. 
A  sharp  knocking  commenced  at  the  door, 
and  the  bluecoats  looked  to  'Ziah  for  advice 
and  directions. 

He  walked  to  a  window  near  the  broken 
one,  brushed  the  curtain  a  little  aside,  and 
looked  out.  Upwards  of  a  score  of  grp.y 
riders  sat  grimly  on  their  horses,  while  the 
one  who  was  knocking  at  the  door  wore  the 
uniform  of  a  captain. 

'Ziah  knew  that  they  would  not  be  satis- 
fled  to  leave  the  building  unsearehed.  That 
much  was  certain.  The  next  thing  in  order 
was  the  question,  what  would  become  of  the 
Unionists  when  such  a  search  was  made? 
Clearly,  there  was  not  room  enough  in  the 
house  "for  two  parties  of  such  antagonistic 
tendencies.    They  must  be  kept  out  or 

In  event  of  a  resistance,  the  bluecoats 
could  make  a  stout  fight,  but  the  probability 
of  a  defeat  at  the  end  mafle  such  a  course  a 
last  desperate  resort.  Under  the  circum- 
stances, it  would  be  better  to  hide  than  to 
fight. 

The  scout  thought  of  the  barn  and  ran  to 
the  window  looking  out  upon  it.  The  way 
was  clear;  no  Confederate  stood  in  the  path 
of  retreat,  and  'Ziah  resolved  to  make  the  at- 
tempt. 

He  spoke  to  the  bluecoats  and  they  caught 
at  his  plan.  It  was  a  risky  one,  with  the 
chances  against  them.but'it.was  the  proverb- 
ial straw  of  the  drowning  man. 

One  after  another,  and  with  remarkable 
agility,   they  sprung  through  the  window 


a  mile  distant  and  not  to  be  considered.  The 
barn  was  their  only  chance. 

Breaking  into  a  run,  they  made  a  dash  for 
the  refuge.  For  forty  yards,  the  corner  of 
thehouseconcealed  them  from  the  view  of  the 
Confederates,  but  as  they  neared  the  barn, 
the  scout  looked  around  and  plainly  saw  the 
whole  squad  of  graycoats. 

It  was  a  thrilling  moment.  If  one  of  their 
enemies  chanced  to  observe  them  as  they 
ran,  their  hopes  would  indeed  be  desperate; 
but,  tired  of  knocking,  the  boys  in  gray 
were  at  that  moment  engaged  in  forcing  an 
entrance,  and  no  one  saw  the  fleeing  Union- 
ists. 

The  bam  was  reached  and  safely  ciitored. 

It  was  of  the  usual  pattern,  uiuT  well  tilled 
with  hay  and  grain.  Itsowiier  Lad  luuM-st- 
ed  his  crops  and  then  haftcneil  to  join 
Early's  arniv  only  to  find  a  grave  at  Fisher's 
Hill. 

"Now,"  sail!  the  scout,  " it's  our  policy  ter 
hide  as  long  as  we  can,  an',  if  diskivered,  ter 
fight  like  sin.  Get  up  on  the  haymow, 
two  or  three  of  ye,  while  the  rest  on  us 
watches  the  grays.  Mebbe  they  won't  dis- 
turb us  at  all." 

"  They  won't  let  the  premises  go  unseareh- 
ed," said  one  of  the  cavalryman,  decidedly. 

"Likely  they  won't,  but  we  won't  squeal 
until  we're  burnt." 

Then  'Ziah  watched  the  Confederates  from 
a  crack  between  the  boards,  and  he  saw 
some  of  them  enter  by  the  window  and  af- 
terward open  the  door.  A  little  time 
elapsed,  which  was  probably  devoted  to 
searching  the  interior,  and  then  the  privates 
of  the  command  settled  down  around  the 
cabin,  and  the  officers  seemed  to  be  making 
themselves  comfortable  inside. 

The  probability  of  further  trouble  was  so 
great  that  'Ziah  began  to  consider  the  feasi- 


bility of  slipping  out  of  the  bam  by  the  rear 
and  making  an  attempt  to  gain  the  woods,  a 
rather  desperate  idea,  since  so  wide  a  field 
must  be  crossed ;  but  at  that  moment  there 
was  a  movement  among  the  grays  which 
assumed  painful  interest  to  the  handful  of 
Unionists. 

A  dozen  of  the  former  left  their  compan- 
ions and  advanced  toward  the  barn,  and 
one  of  the  soldiers  grasped  'Ziah's  arm  ner- 
vously. 

"They  are  coming  to  search  here,"  he 
said. 

.. }, 

show  they  hev  for  fodd 
mow,   every    one   on  ye,  an'  burrow  down 
deep  in  the  kiver.    We  musn't  be  found." 
Leaving  them  to  carr.v  out  their  idea,  let 

The  force  wliieh  liadceaie  upon  and  scat- 
tered the  Union  i  avail  ynieii  was  two  hun- 
dred strong,  and  led  ]<y  a  ((iiifederate col- 
onel. He  had  himself  f;.iiie  iu  pursuit  of  the 
fugitives,  leaving  fifty  men  under  a  captain 
to  guard  the  house;  and  this  captain,  enjoy- 
ing his  brief  authority,  was  resolved  to  make 
the  most  of  it. 

When  the  search  of  the  house  had  failed  to 
reveal  any  occupants,  he  had  not  a  suspicion 
thatany  of  the  Unionists  were  near;  so  he 
went  in,  accompanied  by  a  surgeon  and  a 


home. 

He  settled  down  in  the  best  room,  and 
then,  lacking  servants,  sent  two  privates  to 
explore  for  eatables.  They  explored,  but 
nothing  except  hopelessly  dried  bread  was 
found.  Still,  there  was  joy  behind  the  sor- 
row. Down  iu  the  iiilar  the.y  lound  a  lot  of 
bottled  wine,  and  iviien  this  was  nroughtup, 
the  eyes  of  the  captaiu  fairly  sparkled. 

"Ha!  ha!  how  is  this,  doctor  ?"  he  de- 
manded. "Here  is  stuff  a  thousand  year* 
old,  more  or  less,  and  we  will  use  it— for  med- 
icine, you  know.  Ha!  see  it  sparkle.  Now, 
then,  isn't  this  better  than  chasing  the  in- 
vaders across  the  country?" 

"If  my  opinion  is  worth  anything,  I  should 
say,  'yea,  verily,'"  the  surgeon  replied, 
spurred  on  to  facictiousness  by  the  state  of 
affairs.  "Hustle  around,  men,  and  find  a 
corkscrew." 

"Hang  the  corkscrew!"  said  the  captain. 
"Such  toys  are  not  for  soldiers." 

He  struck  the  neck  of  the  bottle  against 
the  table,  neatly  decapitating  it,  and  then 
the  bottom  of  the  treasure  went  up  in  the 
air,  and  the  wine  began  to  trickle  down  his 
throat. 

His  companions  were  not  far  behind,  but 
on  the  eve  of  tasting,  the  surgeon  paused. 

"  Makehaste,  corporal.  Our  general,  here, 
is  a  glutton,  and  he  will  rob  us  if  he  can. 
Drink  early  and  often." 

No  more  was  said  until  each  man  had 
emptied  his  bottle,  and  then  the  captain 
smacked  his  lips. 

"Prime  stuff,"  he  commented.  "Very 
like  the  nectar  of  the  gods.  Old  Eager,  or 
whatever  his  name  was,  was  a  true  patriots 
He  has  done  much  for  the  Southern  cause. 
Let  us  drink  to  his  memory." 

"You  are  our  superior  officer;  we  dare 
not  disobey,"  answered  the  jovial  surgeon. 

Down  went  the  second  round,  and  the  last 
speaker  began  to  feel  the  effects  of  his  pota- 
tions. He  arose  and  begun  to  go  through 
the  steps  of  some  dance  with  slow  move- 
ments and  awful  dignity. 

He  was  fat  and  clumsy,  and  his  friends  be- 
gan to  laugh  immoderately,  all  of  which 
pleased  him  well,  but  when  he  saw  the  two 
privates  indulging  in  smiles  and  winks  at 
each  other,  he  grew  angry  and  hurled  the 
(mptv  bottles  at  them,  one  after  another. 
The  !a^r  ei:i^hed  against  the  door,  for  they 
had  I  :-,t  an  unceremonious  retreat,  and 
then  the  surtieon  slammed  the  door  together 
and  barred  it. 

He  looked  out  of  the  window  to  shake  his 
fist  at  the  offending  soldiers,  and  then  went 
back  to  the  table. 

"We  are  waiting  for  you,  doctor,"  said  the 
captain,  with  a  yawn. 

The  doctor's  antics  being  over,  he  began 
to  realize  that  he  was  sleepy. 

Once  more  they  drank  around,  and  then 
the  doctor  had  a  funny  story  to  tell.  He 
elevated  his  heels  on  the  table  and  began  the 
yarn. 

He  had  often  told  it  before,  and  to  admir- 
ing audiences,  but,  somehow,  on  this  occa- 
sion, it  seemed  dull  and  stupid  to  himself, 
at  least,  and  he  frequently  paused  to  yawn. 

Having  finished,  he  looked  around  for  the 
customary  applause,  but  none  came.  Both 
his  companions  had  settled  back  in  their 
chairs,  and  were,  to  all   appearances,  faat 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


He  started  in  surprise,  but,  just  then,  be- 
ing caught  by  another  resistless  yawn,  he 
realizes  that  he  was  himself  far  gone  on  the 
same  road. 

"Zounds!"  he  ejaculated,  "that  wine 
affects  us  tremendously.  It  must  have  been 
bottled  for  at  least  a  thousand  years,  a.< 
Pratt  said.  By  Jove!  I'll  And  a  bed,  and 
take  a  nap.  Where  did  I  see  one  ?  Oh,  in 
this  way,  I  think." 

He  arose  and  reeled  toward  the  door, 
staggering  as  he  went.  He  moved  like  a 
drunken  man,  and  yet  he  was  one  who  sel- 
dom lost  his  feet.  Some  time  was  occupied 
m  manipulating  the  latch  before  he  suc- 
ceeded ill  opening  the  door,  but  when  he 
entered  and  saw  the  bed,  he  felt  well  re- 
warded. 

Evidently  it  had  been  occupied  quite  re- 
cently, tor  the  clothing  was  in  disorder,  but 
he  was  Jiut  in  a  very  particular  frame  of 
mind.  He  raised  his  heavy  form  and  drop- 
ped upon  it  with  a  sigh  of  relief. 

Then,  spreading  his  ample  form  well  out, 
he  pillowed  his  head  and  uttered  a  chuckle. 
"This  is  better  than  chasing  the  enemy." 
So  said  the  surgical  man,  but,  sleepy  "as  he 
was,  lie  felt  a  huge  bunch  under  the  cloth- 
ing, which  blunted  the  edge  of  his  pleasure 
somewhat. 

He  gave  the  clothes  a  vicious  wrench,  but 
the  bunch  was  still  there. 

"Hang  it!"  he  said,  "I  ought  to  have  a 
servant  to  make  the  bed.  Wonder  if  I  can 
straighten  it  myself?" 

He  swung  his  feet  off  the  bed,  but  as  he  I 
attempted  to  stand  erect,  lost  his  balu;;ce 
and  fell  Bat  on  the  floor. 

He  was  scarcely  down  when  the  bed- 
clothes became  agitated  at  the  very  point 
where  the  hard  bench  had  been.  They 
trembled,  heaved  upward,  and  then  a  bun- 
dle of  something  in  blue  rolled  out  from  be- 
tween them,  dropped  over  the  back  of  the 
bed  and  sought  cover  underneath. 

All  this  had  l)een  quickly  done,  but  the 
moving  object  looked  strangely  like  a  man 
in  Union  uniform. 

"  Reckon  I'm  pretty  drunk,"  muttered  the 
suigeon,  as  he  gained  his  knees,  "  but  if  the 
bed  won't  hold  me,  the  floor  will.  I'll  sleep 
under  instead  of  on  top  of  it  ?" 


all  likely  I  am  pleased,"  Sam  promptly  an- 
swered. 

"Reckoned  you  wouldn't  be,"  said  the 
inan,  with  a  chuckle.  "But,  see  vere! 
Ydiu-  (  uttbro:ii3  are  eomiu'  inside,  aii'  we 
wiuit  ti  r  lay  h>\Y  while  they  are  hyer.  So  I 
must  a.-li  you  li-r  keep  your  mouth  shut,  an' 
I  will  iui.l  that  if  you  give  any  alarm  I  will 
blow  your  l)iaius  out." 

"Rest  easy;  I  shall  give  no  alarm,"  Sam 
declared. 

"Good.    Now,    see    that    you    keep    y< 
word,  for  we  mean  business  from  a  to  z." 

The  speaker  turned  away,  and    fixed  his 
gaze  upon  a   tabic  at  cue  side  of  the  room. 
Upon  it  WHiv  t.ii  ..,■  a  .loz.u  Imttles  of  some 
iiol.cd    lijvc  Willi',  and  besidt 


pon  it  WHM-  t.ii  nr  a  do 
liquid   whi.h    iool.cil    lilvc  win,., 
them  sat  two  hkhv,  which  wcic  ci 

"Come,  boys,"  he  continued,  " 
well  finish  our  feast  while  we  can. 
be  prisoners  in  live  minutes;  n 
et  them    bluecoats    are   goin'  ter 


jpty. 

xe  may  as 
We  may 

have  this 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

WHICH  TKEATS  OF  BOTTLED  WINE. 

Let  US  now  return  to  Captain  Carriue- 
ton. 

When  he  and  'Ziah  went  in  search  of  a 
place  by  which  to  enter  the  house,  he  was. 


more    successful    than 


at    the   start, 
scout. 

He  found  a  window  which  was  unfastened, 
and  It  was  the  work  of  only  a    minute  to 


All  this  had  been  silently  and  quickly 
done,  and  he  believed  the  room  he  had  en- 
tered to  be  unoccupied;  but,  while  yet 
hanging  from  the  window,  he  was  seized  by 
strong  hands  and  borne  to  the  floor. 

Haltadozen  meuhadbeen  concealed  behind 
various  articles  of  furniture,  and  they  had 
timed  their  attack  so  well  that  he  was 
given  opportunity  for  neither  resistance  nor 

One  of  their  number  secured  the  window, 
while  the  others  bound  and  gagged  theii- 
prisoner. 

Sam  had  struggled  desperately,  but  with 
such  odds  against  him  it  was  all  in  vain. 

His  captors  did  not  delay  long.  They 
knew  just  what  the  situation  outside  was, 
aud  they  at  once  retreated  to  a  small  room 
back  ot  the  one  he  had  so  unluckily  en- 
tered. 

In  this  place  he  was  deposited  In  a  chair, 
and  then  the  men  wheeled  a  heavy,  old-fash- 
iniied  "sccietary"  up  against  the  door,  thus 
completely  concealing  its  existence  from 
any  in. ruder. 

■This  explains  why  Ziah  and  his  compan- 
ions found  no  trace  of  Cavalry  Sam.  None 
of  them  knew  aught  of  the  interior  ot  the 
house;  and,  in  the  limited  time  given  them, 
they  did  not  suspect  that  one  room  had  es- 
ca^ied  their  notice. 

Harrington  looked  at  his  captors  closely 
whde  they  were  securing  the  door,  and  had 
no  trouble  in  classifying  them. 

They  were  ot  the  same  grade  as  Jake 
hhelley  9  gang,  and  wolves  could  not  be  less 
merciless. 

One  of  them  came  ov 
when  the  work  was  done, 
with  a  scowl. 

" Waal,  mister,   how  do  you  like  it?"  he 

"  Your  question  is  superfluous ;  it's  not  at 


His  companions  applauded  his  sentiment 
a  subdued   manner,  and  all  sat  down  at 
le  table  and  began  to  driuk. 
Bottles  were  broken  and  emptied  rapidly, 
Id  by  the  time  the  first  sounds  from   with- 
it  the  room  announced  that  'Ziah  and  his 
lends  had  gained  an  entrance,  the  wine 
MS  rapidly  disappearing. 
Carringtou  sat  helplessly  and  listened.   He 
-aid  the  cavalrymen  making  their  search, 
It  dared  not  call  to  theiu. 
His   captors    were  men    who  valued    life 
lightly,  aud    they  would  surely  keep    their 
word  it  he  sounded  an  alarm. 

But,  as  their  feast  went  on,  he  was  pleased 
to  see  that  the  wine  was  hitting  them 
hard. 

They  grew  dull  of  look,  yawned  frequents 
ly,  and  seemed  fast  falling  into  the  meshes 
of  intoxication. 

At  last,  one  man  laid  his  head  on  the  table 
and  ceased  operations.  To  all  appearances, 
he  was  asleep.  His  evident  comfort  excited 
another  so  much  that  he  lay  down  on  the 
floor,  and  at  once  became  quiet. 

Others  followed  their  lead,  aud  then  (^av- 
alry  Sam  sat  in  wonder,  and  looked  to  see 
the  whole  gang  apparently  dead  drunk. 

He  did  not  venture  to  stir  for  some  time, 
for  he  feared  that  they  were  shamming— it 
must  either  be  that,  or  else  the  wine  was  re- 
markably powerful— but  their  heavy  breath- 
ing at  last  vanished  his  fears, 

He  shuffled 
moved. 


feet,  but 


of    them 


night,  "I  believe 
ley  are,  I'm  going 
get  out  of  this.  But  how?  It  is  hardly 
fe  to  call  to  'Ziah ;  and,  as  I  don't  hear  any 
sounds  from  him,  I  don't  know  but  he  has 
left  the  house.  I  reckon  I  had  better  play  a 
lone  hand,  and  I'm  inclined  to  think  I  can 
easily  get  out  of  these  bonds.    I'll  try  i" 

He  suited  the  action  to  the  word,  and  the 
thongs,  hurriedly  tied,  did  not  long  resist  his 
gi-cat  strength.  They  fell  off,  and  his  hands 
warts  free,  after  which  he  was  not  long  in 
liberating  his  feet. 
"Now,   then,  for  hberty,"   he    added,  to 

He  glided  to  the  door,  removed  the  fasten- 
ings aud  opened  it.  Only  the  secretary  lay 
between  him  and  freedom. 

Pausiug  for  a  moment,  he  looked  back  and 
saw  his  own  weapons  where  the  bushwhack- 
ers had  laid  them. 

It  would  not  do  to  leave  them  behind,  so 
he  retraced  his  steps,  secured  them,  and 
went  again  to  the  door. 

The  secretary  was  easily  1  emoved,  and  he 
stood  alone  in  the  outer  nioni.  The  sound 
ot  voices  from  that  ail  joiiiiiig  it  reached  his 
ears,  and  he  was  about  to  abruptly  open  the 
door  and  surprise  'Ziah,  when  caution  came 


s  aid. 


probably  return  to  his  companions  in  a 
moment;  the  bed  will  hide  me." 

And  thus  it  was  that,  when  the  surgeon 
lay  down  and  found  the  <oucli  so  uneven. 
Cavalry  Sam  was  at  the  bottom  of  his 
trouble— and  of  the  bed-clothing. 

When  the  former  Ic-^t  his  balance,  and  feU 
to  the  floor,  the  blue  bundle  that  whisked 
over  the  edge  of  the  bed  w  as  the  same  Sam 
in  his  uniform. 

He  imagined  he  had  gained  a  point  by  his 
change  ot  base,  but  the  shejiy  surgeon  soon 
undeceived  him.  Finding  his  muscular 
power  on  the  wane,  he  decided  to  sleep 
under  the  bed  instead  of  on  its  top. 

So  under  he  went,  drawing  his  corpulent 
form  to  cover  without  ngard  t,p  dignity, 
and  Sam  squirmed  bai-k  tightiv  against  the 
wall  inan  atteiujit  to  kcc]!  ,.iit  '..f  his  way 

"I  will  pillow  III  V  head  1.11  a  s,,|ili,Ts  bed  " 
ijuoth  the  surgeon,  uii,-.,n>,  i,,nsly  railing 
into  poetry;  and  with  tin  sc  words,  he  laid 
the  aforesaid  head  upon  Sam's  manly  breast 
The  doctor  was  surprised,  for  he  had  re-^ 
ferred  to  the  bare  floor ;  but  as  he  roused  a 
trille,  Sam's  fingers  closed  over  Ins  throat. 

"You've  mistaKen  the  number  of  your 
room,  old  man,"  said  the  Unionist.  This 
hotel  believes  in  accommodation,  but  not  too 
much  of  it." 

The  Confederate  began  to  squirm  in  a 
lively  way,  but  the  grip  on  his  neck  was  a 
resistless  one,  and  Sam  held  him  where  he 
was  wanted. 

Contusion  reigned  in  the  doctor's  mind; 
but  he  was  too  far  gone  to  get  a  clear  idea 
ot  the  situation,  and  after  a  little 
aux 
actu 
The  liottled  wine  was  working  well. 
Five  minutes  passed,  and  the  surgeon  was 
out  of  the  race.  He  lay  prostrate,  breath- 
ing heavily,  and  Sam  drew  him  fully  under 
the  bed,  and  prepared  to  look  after  his  own 
interests. 

Creeping  from  under  cover,  he  moved 
about  the  cabin  and  looked  the  field  over. 

In  the  front  room  the  two  ofBcers  still 
slept,  and  around  the  buildingthe  other  sol- 
diers were  collected,  taking  their  ease  while 
they  waited. 

"How  the   dickens   am    I   to  get  out  of 

this .'      mentally     inquired     the    Unionist. 

These  fellows  have  evidently  driven  off  my 

boys  in  blue,  and  my  chances  of  being  found 

are  large.    What  next?" 

While  he  reflected,  a  footfall  behind  him 
caused  hira  to  wheel  abruptly,  and  he  looked 
around  to  See  one  of  the  bushwhackers 
standing  before  him. 

He  had  left  the  fellow  sleeping  in  the 
prison-room,  but  he  had  thrown  off  his 
stupor,  and  now  confronted  Sam  with  a 
huge  knife  in  his  hand,  while  his  face  waa 
full  of  triumph. 


fhile  in    the 


he  he 


Id  I  he 


(ilicniiiL'  thi-  door  a  trifle,  he  looked 
tln,,ii-h.  aii,l  KMv  three  men  in  Confederate 
gray  s,  ai,  ,l  at  the  table.  They  were  the 
captain,  ih,'  i-.niioral  and  the  surgeon,  and 
he  gamed  his  vi,w  when  the  latter  had  just 
decided  that  he  had  better  seek  a  bed. 

Sam  saw  the  bottles  on  the  table,  aud, 
even  then,  he  decided  that  there  must  be 
something  wrong  about  the  wine.  It  had 
eftected  the  men  more  like  drugged  spirits 
than  according  to  the  way  of  intoxication. 

His  reflections  on  that  subject  came  to  an 
end  as  the  surgeon  turned  toward  the  door, 
and  it  became  evident  that  he  must  at  ouce 
get  out  of  sight.  Where  could  he  go?  Not 
hack  into  the  prison-room ;  so  only  one 
room  remained  in  which  to  hide. 

"The  bed!"  he  thought.     "This  man  will 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

rN  THE   BAKN. 

When  'Ziah  and  his  companions  saw  the 
boys  in  gray  advancing  toward  the  bam, 
they  naturally  felt  a  good  deal  of  mental 
agitation. 

There  were  already  enough  men  in  the 
building  to  suit  their  taste,  and  the 
introduction  of  more  looked  like  crowding 
the  lodgers.  ^ 

The  scout's  suggestion  that  they  conceal 
themselves  in  the  haymow  met  with  hearty 
approbation,  aud  there  wasa  sudden  scattei- 
ing  as  the  bluecoats  went  up  and  into  the 
hay. 

Dignity  was  not  to  be  considered  then,  and 
they  burrowed  down  with  more  haste  than 
sys^tem. 

still  a  slight  commotion  along 
hen  the   Confederates  entered. 
li  I  party  had  disappeared  from 
>"■"  ■i"'i  '•■'  >  110  sign. 

At  til.- li,a,l  of  the  grays  was  a  man  who 
iilli-ii  ther.thccof  corporal— more  than  that 
he  overflowed  the  ollicc  and  ran  down  on  all 
sides.  In  his  opiiiimi  forporal  Bri"i;s  w-as 
one  of  the  heroes  of  the  war,  .unl  hisambi- 
tion  was  so  towering  that,  having  taken  the 
firet  step,  he  already  had  designs  on  the 
office  held  by  one  Jnbal  Early,  general  in 
the  Confederate  service,  etc. 

The  corporal  placed  one  arm  akimbo,  and 
while  the  other  hand  performed  a  circle  in 
the  air,  he  surveyed  the  interior  of  the 
barn. 

.  stock  of  animal  food,"  quoth 
and  grain  enough  here  to  supply 
our  pquines  for  nn  indefinite  period.  "T 
thought  as  much  before  I  enteretl.  We  are 
lucky  to  be  ahead  of  the  enemy.  Here,  men 
go  to  the  mow  and  throw  down  hay  enough 
to  feed  our  whole  command.    Tlie   .  ..hinei 


L  goodly 
"Hay  an 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


15 


runaways,  aud  I  must  have  all  iu  order  for 
liim." 

The  lueu  obeyed  promptly.  All  set  about 
tbe  work  except  tbe  corporal,  himself,  aud 
as  they  labored,  he  paoeil  lliu  tloor  with  a 
slow  aud  massive  tread. 

Three  pitchforks  had  beeu  found  aud 
woiked  iu  by  as  many  meu,  while  the  others 
used  tlu'ir  hands,  and  the  upper  layer  of  the 
hay  began  to  move  rapidly  from  its  bed  to 
the  floor  below. 

All  this  was  of  intense  interest  to  the  con- 
cealed boys  in  blue. 

Every  ypear  of  hay  removed  decreased  the 
amount  above  them,  and  at  that  rate  it  look- 
ed as  though  they  would  soon  be  imcovered 
aud  taken  iu  by  the  impromptu  farmers. 

If  the  Coufederates  had  looked  closely, 
they  might  have  seen  sundry  tremblings  of 
the  hay  not  made  by  them,  for  as  they  tossed 
down  the  hay  the  luckless  Unionists  bur- 
rowed deeper  aud  tried  to  get  away  from 
the  sharp  tines  of  the  pitchforks,  which  had 
already  wounded  one  or  two  of  them. 

'Ziah  had  a  more  advantageous  position 
than  the  others. 

He  was  near  the  edge  of  the  mow,  with  a 
clear  space   at   one   side,   where   he   could 


It  did  not  seem  possible  that  the  Unionists 
could  escape  discovery.  It  was  liable  to 
come  at  auy  minute,  and  when  it  did,  it 
meant  ruin  to  the  little  handful ;  so  the 
scout  began  to  consider  a  relief  measure. 

His  plan  was  a  desperate  one,  but  he  re- 
solved to  act  upon  it. 

A  little  wriggling  took  him  clear  of  the 
hay,  and  he  dropped  lightly  down  into  a 
daik  passage,  thus  gaining  the  level  of  the 
pompous  corporal. 

This  was  just  what  he  wanted,  for  he  had 
designs  ou  that  same  officer,  and,  creeping 
forward  near  the  open  floor,  he  saw  him 
standing  in  an  attitude  of  deep  thought. 
His  gaze  was  fixed  absently  on  the  light  pile 
of  hay  before  him,  and  it  is  probable  some 
weighty  agricultural  problem  was  surging 
through  his  mind. 

His  reflections  were  interrupted  by  a  touch 
on  his  shoulder,  and  he  looked  around  to  see 
a  man  who  was  a  stranger  to  him ;  a  man  in 
civilian's  garments,  and  rather  rough-look 


1  his  hand  was  a  cocked  revolver,  aud  its 
muzzle  covered  the  eyes  of  the  corporal,  full 
and  steady. 

"Be  still  1"  said  this  unwelcome  appari- 
tion.   "  Utter  one  word  and  you  are  a  dead 

Ziuh— for  it  was  he  who  held  the  revolver 
—meant  every  word  that  he  said,  and  the 
corporal  knew  it,  too. 

■•why— why— why "    he    stammered, 

considerably  alarmed ;  but  the  scout  inter- 
rupted him. 

"  Not  a  word,  mister.  I  mean  business, 
an'  here's  the  whole  case  in  a  few  words. 
I'm  int'rested  in  this  barn,  an'  1  won't  have 
the  hay  tumbled  down  tbat^a-way " 

"  But  it's  for  the  Confederate  army,"  de- 
clared the  corporal. 

"  Confederate  thunder !     You    keep    still 


Dou't  tempt  me,  for  I  am  wicked  when  I'm 
mad.  Now,  hear  me:  I  want  you  losing 
out  ter  them  chaps  above  an'  tell  them  ter 
!.top  work  an'  descend.  When  they  come 
down,  tell  them  to  return  ter  the  others  an' 
leave  you  alone  in  the  barn.  Will  ye  do 
it?" 

"Yes,"  said  the  corporal,  with  assumed 
suUenness,  but  with  a  gleam  in  his  eyes. 

•'Hold  hard,  old  man.  You  mean  mis- 
chief. It  won't  work.  When  they  come 
down  I  shall  be  hiding  in  yonder  passage  an' 
iny  revolver  will  cover  your  brain.  Efyou 
set  their  suspicions  at  work  by  word,  look, 
or  gesture,  I'll  shoot  you  dead.  Under- 
stand/" 

The  corporal  comprehended  only  too  well, 
and  th(!  situation  flUed  him  with  fury.  He 
demuj  red  a  little,  but  'Ziah  sternly  cut  him 
short.  Work  was  going  on  above  aud  the 
Uuiouists  might  be  discovered  at  any  time. 
Matters  must  be  pressed. 


gramme.  'Ziah  retired  to  the  passage,  and 
the  soluiers  were  hailed  as  directed.  .  The 
corpoi'al  oi'dered  them  down  aud  they  came 
promptly. 

Perspiring  freely,  their  leader  glanced 
toward  the  passage  aud  dimly  saw  a  revol- 
ver covering  his  head.    Its  meaning  could 


not  be  misconstrued,  and  then  he  told  the 
men  to  join  their  comrades  by  the  house 
whih:  be  remained  iu  the  barn.  They  went, 
laughingly,  saying  that  the  sly  corporal 
probably  wished  to  take  a  nap,  and  that  un- 
happy officer  was  left  alone  with  his  enemy. 

'Ziiih  came  out  of  the  passage,  chuckling, 
geuially. 

••  You  did  wal,  old  man,  you  sartingly  did. 
I  give  you  credit  fur  that.  Now,  we  will  go 
up  on  the  mow." 

"What  for?"  demanded  the  poor  fellow, 
in  alarm,  for  he  began  to  fear  bodily  mis- 
chief. 

"  I'll  show  you  later,"  was  the  grim  reply. 

Asraiii  the  corporal  demurred,  but  the  po- 
tent revolver  i)erformed  a  slight  flourish 
ami  he  wilteil.  They  began  to  ascend  the 
ladder  together.  Half-way  up,  the  Confed- 
erate tried  to  slyly  draw  his  knife,  having 
previously  been  deprived  of  his  revolver, 
but  a  single  command  from  'Ziah  caused 
hiui  to  hold  back  his  hand. 

They  reached  the  mow  and  a  few  words 
from  the  scout  sufficed  to  arouse  the  hiding 
Uuiouisls.  The  corporal  saw  the  hay  agitat- 
ed in  various  places,  aud  then,  one  after 
another,  the  boys  in  blue  came  out,  shaking 
off  the  clinging  hay,  and  'Ziah  laughed  at 
the  expression  on  the  corporal's  face. 

••  Rather  a  surprise  party,  ain't  it,  mis- 
ter?" he  asked,  genially.  "Now,  you  see 
why  I  wanted  the  bam  cleared.  For  the 
present,  you  are  our  prisoner,  but  we  won't 
do  you  any  bodily  harm  an'  I  hope  fur  your 
sake  that  we  shall  soon  make  a  change  o' 
base.    Bind  him,  men  !" 


suit  themselves. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

CONTINUED        TROUBLE. 

Captain  Carrington  was  for  a  moment 
startled  by  the  appearance  of  the  bush- 
whacker. He  was  a  brawny  fellow,  and  his 
face  was  brutal,  while  the  knife  in  his  hand 
very  plainly  showed  that  he  meaut  mis- 
chief. 

Only  for  a  moment  did  Sam  quail  before 
him.  Brave  as  any  man,  and  with  full  con- 
fidence iu  his  physical  powers,  he  would  not 
have  trembled  before  any  man,  and  as  his 
wits  fiowed  back  his  sole  thought  was  how 
to  best  subdue  the  man  without  permitting 
an  alarm. 

"  Aha!"  chuckled  the  bushwhacker,  "I 
have  you  again.  You  thought  to  slide  out 
of  our  pen,  but  you  have  run  agin  a  rock." 

"  Where  is  the  rock  ?  I  don't  see  it,"  Sam 
retorted. 

"It  is  here;  I  am  rock  enough  ter  wreck 
your  craft,"  was  the  confident  reply. 
"  Now,  you  brass-mounted  sojer,  jest  wheel 
an"  trot  back  where  you  came  from."" 

••  Who  says  so  ?" 

"  I  do.  Mebbe,  you  don't  know  me.  I'm 
Jack  Barnes,  o'  Jake  Shelley's  command. 
You've  heerd  o'  him,  no  doubt." 

"  I  have,  as  a  cutthroat."" 

"  I'm  another,  an  the  worst  of  the  lot.  1  ui 
a  fearer  o'  the  worst  kind.    D'ye  hear  me  1" 

While  speaking,  Barnes  had  advanced 
quite  near  to  the  Unionist.  His  words  were 
somewhat  exaggerated,  but  the  scowl  on  his 
face  and  the  upraised  knife  were  not  to  be 
misunderstood.  Sam  knew  he  meant  mis- 
chief, but  he  was  resolved  to  nip  that  pro- 
ceeding in  the  bud. 

So,  as  the  last  word  fell  from  the  mau's 
lips,  the  captain  made  a  toward  leap.  The 
move  took  Barnes  by  surprise,  but  he 
SH  iiuf;  liis  knife  around  quickly  and  made  a 

Ihid  ihut  stroke  been  unchecked  it  would 
have  ;;uue  hard  with  Cavalry  Sam,  but  he 
cau;;Ut  Barnes'  wrist  in  midair,  and  the 
kuito  stopped  as  though  by  magic. 

It  was  no  time  for  fine  or  generous  work. 
A  single  sliout  would  ruin  Sam,  aud,  almost 
at  the  moment  his  left  hand  stayed  the 
knife,  his  light  shot  out,  tightly  clinched, 
dealing  his  enemy  a  stunning  blow  between 
the  eyes. 

It  was  a  blow  which  would  have  felled  him 
had  he  not  been  held  in  a  firm  grasp ;  and, 
as  it  was,  it  brought  tears  to  his  eyes  and  con- 
fused him,  while  his  knife  fell  rattling  to 
the  floor. 

Then  Sam  grappled  and  bore  him  to  the 
floor,  expecting  an  easy  victory,  but  the  fel- 
low was  pluck  to  the  backbone,  and  he  ral- 
lied and  put  forth  all  of  his  great  strength. 

Giants  met  then,  and  over  and  over  on  the 
floor  they  rolled,  neither  being  able  for  some 
time  to  gain  the  mastery. 

They  fought    in  silence.    Sam  daied   not 


utter  a  word;  Barnes  could  not,  beoauifo  of 
the  pressure  on  his  neck. 

Once,  in  their  rapid  twistiugs,  they  rolled 
partially  under  the  bed  aud  against  the  sur- 
geon; but  he  was  not  to  be  awakened  easily, 
and  slumbered  on  peacefully . 

Anon,  Sam  put  forth  all  his  power  and 
crammed  the  bu.shwliacker  into  a  corner.il 
This  gave  him  an  advaut;ige,  and  iuamo-. 
luent  more  he  was  kneeling  uu  his  breast. 

Then,  from  the  back  of  his  neck,  he  drew_ 
a  concealed  knife  and  held  it  before  his  eves. ' 

"  Lie  still !""  he  sternly  said.  "  Your  life  is  ■ 
balanced  against  your  silence.  One  word  of 
alarm  seals  your  fate!" 

Ttiere  was  no  mistaking  the  keen  inflection 
of  his  voice. 

The  bushwhacker  knew  he  meant  what  he 
said,  and  lay  still;  but  in  his  heart  was  a 
fierce  rage.  He  only  required  a  chance  to 
again  show  his  claws. 

At  that  moment  Sam  heard  voices  in  the 
outer  room,  and  then  some  one's  name  waa 
pronounced. 

He  understood  the  situation ;  some  of  the 
soldiers  had  entered  the  house  and  were  try- 
ing to  awaken  the  Confederate  soldiers. 

"  Whar's  the  doctor?"  he  heard  asked,  dis- 
tinctly. 

'•  In  the  next  room,  I  reckon,"  was  the  re- 
ply. 

"  Go  in  and  see.  I  don't  understand  why 
the  cap'n  sleeps  so  sound." 

Sam  Carrington  was  stirred  into  instant 
activity. 

A  soldier  was  about  to  enter  the  room  he 
was  occupying,  and  such  an  intrusion  would 
result  to  his  sorrow. 

Acting  ou  the  first  impulse,  he  dragged  his 
prisoner  under  the  bed,  and,  giving  no  heed 
to  the  surgeon,  placed  his  knife  at  Barnes' 
throat. 

"One  word  and  you  die!"  he  hissed. 

The  door  then  opened,  and  a  Confederate 
soldier  entered. 

He  paused  and  glanced  curiously  around. 

"  No  sigu  of  him  here,"  he  said. 

"  He  must  be  there.    Ain"t  he  in  bed?" 

"No." 

"That's  queer." 

"  He  may  be  in  some  other  room." 

Another  soldier  strode  in  after  the  first. 


oved  forward. 

Cavalry  Sam  shut  his  teeth  tightly. 

Discovery  was  certain,  but  he  was  not  in- 
clined to  yield  tamely. 

He  had  a  knife  in  one  hand  and  a  revolver 
in  the  other,  aud  hecould  makemattera  sul- 
try for  the  enemy,  to  say  the  least. 

If  it  were  not  for  Barnes 

Even  as  the  thought  entered  his  mind,  the 
bushwhacker  made  a  desperate  eilort  to  free 
himself,  but  he  only  served  to  show  Sam's 
mettle. 

The  revolver  swept  through  the  air,  the 
butt  struck  the  man  full  iu  the  temple,  and, 
with  a  groan,  he  fell  back  senseless. 

The  soldier  stopped  just  as  he  was  about  to 
lift  the  curtain  which  hung  around  the  bed, 
aud  then  sprung  back. 

••  Ha !  did  you  hear  that  ?"  he  demanded. 

"  I  thought  I  heerd  a  groan." 

"So  you  did,  an'  it  come  from  under  the 
bed.    "Thought  I  heerd  a   thrashin,  about, 


the    doctor's 
[didi 


under    thar,  an" 
't  think  on  it  be- 


too." 

"  Mebbe 
sick." 

"  That's  the  idee ! 
fore." 

Once  more  he  advanced,  but  at  that 
moment  a  new  voice  sounded  keen  and 
sharp. 

"  Halt,  there !  I've  got  you  covered,  and 
if  you  yell  or  try  to  run,  out  go  your 
brains!" 

The  two  soldiers  were  at  the  side  of  the 
bed,  and,  looking  toward  the  foot,  they  saw 
a  human  head  rising  to  view,  while  a  pair  of 
glittering  revolvers  covered  them,  a  muzzle 
to  each  luau. 

"Stand  where  you  are,  and  don't  try  to 
draw  a  weapon,"'  continued  Cavalry  Sam, 
sternly.  "  I  am  boss  here,  and  one  move  on 
your  part  seals  your  fate."' 

Even  as  he  spoke,  the  gallant  captain  was 
wouderiug  what  he  was  to  do  next.  He  was, 
to  all  appearances,  without  a  man  at  his 
back,  while,  besides  the  fellows  under  the 
bed,  who  were  liable  to  arouse  at  auy  mo- 
ment, he  had  two  very  lively  foes  in  frontof 
him  and  two  score  more  outside  the  build- 
ing. 

It  looked  as  though  he  was  saddling  a  hard 
horse  to  ride,  but  he  had  no  choice  but  to  go 
with  the  current. 

"  Who  the  deuce  are  you  ?"  demanded  on* 
of  the  soldiers. 

"  Your  master,"  was  the  terse  reply. 


16 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


"  By  the  fiends!  you  are  a  Northener." 
■-  Call  me  what  you  will,  I  am  bo33  here  at 
It-sent.    You  see  these  reTolvers  looking  at 


lead  will  settle 
The  soldiers  were  furious.    Brare 
•average,  they  would  gladly  have  engaged 


sensible 


}  this  bold  stranger  in  battle,  but 
t  man  cares  to  face  a  flying  bullet. 
''  "Just  back  of  you,"  continued  Sam,  cool- 
ly, "you  will  see  a  small  rope.  Take  that 
and  bind  your  companion." 

"  I  won't  do  it,"  flashed  the  Confederate. 

"  You  life  depends  on  it.  Look  at  the  re- 
volver." 

The  man  did  look,  and  the  sight  filled  him 
with  fury.  He  was  of  far  better  material 
Itian  the  bushwhacker  element,  and  this  dis- 
comfiture had  a  sting  for  him  which  a  baser 
man  would  not  have  felt.  Still,  there  was 
nothing  for  him  to  do  except  to  obey,  so, 
stifling  a  groan,  he  turned  and  picked  up  the 
rope. 

Sam  watched  keenly.  He  knew  both  the 
soldiers  were  brave,  quick-witted  fellows, 
true  Virginians,  and  they  must  be  well 
guarded  or  they  would  yet  work  him  m.s- 
chief. 

The  man  who  was  to  be  bound  made  no 
complaint,  but  stood  still  while  the  otaer 
went  about  the  work.  Twice  Carrington 
had  to  hasten  liim  'lud  only  fork  s  repeated 
I  lutions  the  Ivin.,  would  hai  i  een  poorly 
(liue  but  lu^  pei«ua-.ne  d  tamed  the 
^loikthr  n_h  md  one  o*  the  couple  was, 
out  of  mi     1  let  ten  the  t  ice  I  eing 

No«  com  heie  tue  v  ctor  baid,  to  the 
otliei         Put  youi  hands  above  youi  head' 

both  oiders  weie  ooeyed 
J<  ow  I  will  b  /  J  you  as  ^  ou  hai  e  bound 
Adui  fiiend 

'^:)saymg  Lc  id  down  his  neipun  id 
vmiedand  ""ot  the  <oid  He  did  not  at 
one  e  use        .  r-  ^evei      It  wis  the  moment 

I  )r  which  V-      man  had  awiited    lud  w  ith   i 

I I  emendous  aound  he  leaped  upon  his  en 

The  Unionist  had  expected  is  much  and 
was  ready  for  It  He  met  the  ittuk  with 
his  strong  aims    ml  tin    tno  ^i  \\  pli  \  hki 


Massa 


i;  how  you   do?"   he 
"  exclaimed   Carring- 


"  Halloo 
asked. 

"  Cleon,  by  thunder 
ton. 

"  Used  to  be  Cleon,  massa,  but  now  my 
name  is  Edmund  Smith.  I'm  a  free  Ameri- 
cau  darky,  all  the  way  from  Shenandoah  to 
Puget  Sound." 

"  And  I'm  glad  of  it.    Shake,  old  boy." 

And,  forgetful  of  the  unbound  prisoner, 
the  two  shook  hands  warmly.  They  had 
met  under  peculiar  circumstances  after 
many  years,  but  neither  had  forgotten  the 
other.  Edmund  had  always  remembered 
the  "  Massa  Sam,"  who  had  been  so  kind  to 
him  when  he  was  only  a  boy ;  and  the  IJnion 
captain  felt  warmly  toward  one  who  had 
warned  him  in  time  of  danger,  and  after- 
ward shared  in  his  flight  through  the  swamp 

San 
kne 

"Wjere  did  you  come  from,  Edmund? 
Do  you  jee  I've  got  a  prisoner?  Just  bring 
over  t£.at  string  and  let  me  tie  him,  will 
you'.'-' 

The  negro  obeyed,  and  the  Confederate 
was  soon  beyond  power  of  mischief. 

"Your  soldiers  are  outside,  Massa  Sam," 
Edmund  then  said. 

"Are  they?  Well,  I've  lost  the  run  of 
affairs  about  here  of  late,  but  it  strikes  me 
there  has  been  some  disturbance  outside  as 
well  as  m     What  has  been  the  trouble  i 

Edmund  suggested  that  the  captain  go 
out  and  show  himselt  to  his  men  without 
tuithci    I  In       u   I     Us  iiipt  II  uue    it   the 


fci^ 


spt>dl 


i-h  )  h  Id  ( 


Ziih  ind  his  compimous  hid  madt 
appexiance  Irom  the  baiu  so  theit 
geiieial  leunion  m  fiont  ot  the  house 

Wt  ahead}  know  whit  adventuit 
betiUen  Mm  and   7nh  suite  the-v  flis 


spite  certain  misadventures  of  the  day,  he 
had  been  generally  successful,  and,  liy  means 
of  pluck,  quick  wit,  and  good  luck,  be  had 
crawled  from  more  than  one  tight  place. 

He  did  not  believe  his  successes  had  come 
to  an  end. 

He,  rode  at  the  head  of  his  gallant  little 
band,  with  'Ziah  and  Edmund  beside  him. 

The  reunion  of  the  trio,  after  so  many 
years,  was  calculated  to  inspire  all  with  a 
desire  to  talk,  but  the  leader  did  not  forget 
that  he  was  a  soldier,  and  few  unnecessary 
words  were  said. 

Two  miles  were  soon  passed,  for  their  pace 
was  a  rapid  one,  and  then  they  neared 
Dresser's  wood. 

Signs  of  the  Confederates  might  be  seen  at 
any  moment,  and  as  Sam  did  not  care  to  en- 
gage them  it  they  had  consolidated,  he  halt- 
ed his  blueeoats  in  a  thin  wood,  and  began 
to  give  directions  to  'Ziah  regarding  a  scout. 

At  that  moment  a  murmur  ran  along  the 
Union  line. 

It  reached  the  captain,  and  sent  him  to  the 
edge  of  the  trees. 

Just  beyond  them,  coming  across  the  open 
field  which  lay  ahead,  about  three  score 
riders  in  gray  were  advancing  at  a  walk. 

It  was  one  half  ot  the  divided  force. 

"  By  .lupiter!"  cried  Cavalry  Sam,  "they 
are  walking  right  into  our  jaws!" 

"  Less  go  out  an'  him  'em,"  suggested  Ed- 
mund  eagerly 

Wait  said  the  captain  coolly  '  Don't 
you  oee  they  are  coming  to  us  ? 

He  paused  and  reflected  a  moment,  and 
then  gave  a  few  hasty  orders 

The  bluetoats  took  positions  assigned 
them   and  ill  tn  uted  grimly 

The  (  oufedeiates  tame  on  slowly  without 

suspition  of  dan^ei      They  crowded  the 


to  the  h( 


(  t  the 
ti^  -,1 


lun  bod  V  of  < 


dOT 


«  Is  n  )t  to  bi  kept  til   I 

\  I  speiate  stiu^^lp  It^iii  1  ut  it  1  idi 
fan  t  >  soon  be  finishtd  ^  uu  h  iii  mnut 
ted  I  ^revt  o^eisi^ht  111  It  ivm.,  thi  U^s  ot 
the  til  st  soldier  unbound  toi  i&  soon  as  the 
bthtis  ,j;rappled  he  dashed  into  the  outei 
I  coin  to  give  the  alai  m  to  the  soldiers  out- 
side the  house 

E\  II  IS  he  Tieut  however  a  new  and 
st  n  t    1  111      i  I  f  ke  upou  his  hearing     He 

he  it  il  I  i\  \  1  md  theu  went  to  the 
Willi    \  ii        1     II   thesieneou   the  lawn 

hid    hiu^  Idi,    (  nnttderite  kaw  hi» 

comitdcs^iU  ,  iiJ.,iudisoidei  nhilemixtd 
in  with  thmi  ui  i  «  i>  fai  tiom  pleisint 
were  iiumtioiis  iidci»  lu  Uuiou  blue 

Oneglaute  was    enough   to  shon    the  o  j 

seivti  thxt  the   di-s  wis  going    i^iiust  the 

boysingiay   They  had  been  sui  pi  is,  ]    md 

though  not  peiteptibly   outnumbeied    weie 

ibpisffthi 

th    teiiible 


Wheu  the  boj  s  lu  ^i  n  i  une  dou  u 
plate  two  bundled  stiiiu/  theie  n  eie  les' 
thm  fifty  Unionists  to  oppose  them  so  thi 
littei  Meie  quickly  put  to  flight  leiiiui 
then  leadei  and  hall   i  dozen  men  bt  hind 

Thev  would  veiy  Ilk  eh  ha\p  tind  bidh 
in  t  hit  flight  hid  the>  nr  t  thiutedui  on  1  1 
uuiu  1  but  hi  n  IS  in  the  saddle  on  s  m 
aid  foi  his  miatti      md   ht    led  the  tu^i 


open  held  mtl  entered  th 
Then  -when  theyweie 
bush  the  Unionists  ai  t  se 
od  w  13  Used  in  the  itti 
SI  iiceh  a  mm  1  ut  found 
best  t 
In  the  wit  fl  It  «  IS  iiir 


lood 
ilj  in  the  am- 
ill  sides  Meth- 
mil  theie  was 
iself  peisonally 


s      lit 


ind  1 


lit  thi 


Sam 


iteptibly 
getting  severely  floggec 
new  tomersweie  being  n=ed 

The  ightexiited  theman  to  sutb  ; 
that  he  m  in  i^i  d  t  i  buist  his  bonds 
which  Ik  1  i  ui„  titm  tht  window 
(aught  il  h  Use  so  intent   in   i  ir 


sell  thi 


ili> 


ly  Sam 
t  wi.  somewhat  litei  tl 
:  worsted  his  opponent 


gie  ieto%eie 
him  while  ht 
bi eath 

'  Whatne\ 
while  we  we; 


ideivoied  to  i 


soliioquis, 


abt  1 


thescuudrtfu  11111^  utsi  U  luit  ill  s  luiet 
ut  »     lud  1  If  I     ul  w  IS  mistaken 

Fmu  ish  SI  1  the  1  ir  WIS  sutldeuh 
1  Usui  (1  open  lud  i  st  ut  negio  euteied 
Siiu  h  id  staiteil  to  i  use  his  levolvei  but  a» 
ht  pluulysaw  the  f ace  ot  the  intruder  he 
paused  in  irresolution 

The  man  looked  strangely  familiar. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 


the  negro  who  had  entered  the  room  was 
111  medium  size,  but  stoutly  built,  and  his 
face  was  sharp  and  shrewd  beyond  the  aver- 
age. His  eyes  took  a  roving  glance,  and 
then  his  white  teeth  came  to  the  front 
through  the  agency  of  a  broad  smile. 


til    puisueis    doulili  1   in  then 
taint  bitk  to  theEuti  house 
Wheit  lit  thi  tontederates 
abiuptlj   isked 

Pokiu  up  Ul  es^t^  s  woods,  said  Edmund, 
with  out  ot  his  old-trme  grins  b'pose 
they  think  sure  we  ai  e  in  dar,  an  they  hab 
divided  into  two  parties  an  surrounded  de 
whole  wood 

Divided,  say  you  ' 
Yes,  b  ih 

'Then  by  mj  lite  well  ij  i  1  it  em 
again  Theie  taut  be  mi  1l  m  ^  eut\ 
five  men  m  eith  pait>      in  I    I  ili  i  k  is 

wellplmued   we  tan   whii       i  e  h  ilf  I  rfoie 
the  othfi  suspei  ts  misthit  t 

/iihutteitd  1  suppii  ssed  theei  He  did 
nut  kui  »  enough  iljout  histoiy  tt  untlei- 
st  lud  th  it  t  II I  iu_t  lU  w  is  pi  iniiing  to  move 
aftei  thest^lt  ot  the  hist  ^apolt^  11  but  he 
diditt    ^ui/i   tbelea  II  illt-v  ot  tbeidei 

Fiepai  ititus  1  1  lepiituit  w  el  e  it  onte 
nude  Iht  liiii  wi  tii  il  lu  a  stoieol 
plites  lud  thi  hi  -Il  ml  ttok  quick  hold 
EMdenth  thti  w  ild  so,  u  be  nothing 
theie  t)     in\ite  the  tueuiy  to  leturn 

i-s  the  blues  could  not  be  encumbered 
with  iiiisoneibin  then  dash,  lUthetonted 
1  ittsweit  lor  the  time  lett  in  the  hou-e 
11  who  had  partaken  ot  the  wine  tould 
1  t  I  iwakened  and  the  Union  surget  n 
til    Ithxt  they  were  drugged  but  not  pois 

In  tatt  the  ownei  ot  the  house,  before  go 
ing  to  loiu  Eirlj  s  aimy,  had  poured  i 
stioug  slicpmg  diug  into  eath  bottle,  e\ 
petting  th  It  It  would  be  the  invaders  who 
would  hud  md  diink  the  stiift  Whethei 
it  was  humanity  oi  the  possiluhfv  th  it  his 
own  friends  would  find  md  i  ill  vii  tuus  t  >  it 
that  prevented  hrm  from  puttiiis  in  poison, 
is  uncertain. 

Carrington  got  his  men  in  motion  as  soon 
as  possible.  If  he  succeeded  in  doing  dam- 
age to  the  Confederates,  it  must  In-  by 
pt   action,    and,    moreuvcr,  night  was 


\  is  ilii-ih  link  lud  this 
seived  to  bothei  tliM  i  el  pis  but  thev  were 
not  long  111  tompiehending  the  situation, 
md  then  they  began  to  fight  as  bi  n  e  men 

It  w  as  1  eally  a  saber  contest,  and  the  clash 
of  sU  1 1  filled  the  tiees  with  sti  mge  ethoes. 
BI  n  w  1  „neu  iii  I  i  ,  n  ,  ,1  and  gillant 
Il  i  t  1  1  11  1  it  till  I  iitedei  itis  were 
t  il    1        till      1\  11  t  i_       md    they  tought 

the  enemy  stemed  1 

1  eally  were  and  those  left  to  fight  grew  rap"- 
idly  tewer  m  numbers 

At  the  end  of  ten  minutes  it  was  over. 
The  remaining  men  threw  down  their  arms, 
and  the  battle  was  won 

Foity  prisoners  had  been  taken,  and  sev- 
eral de  id  w  ei  e  on  the  ground 

Capt  iin  Can  ington  was  uncertain  what  to 
done\t 

It  seemed  his  best  coin  se  to  hasten  to  camp 
withhiapiibouers  but  the  desiie  to  attack 
thesf  nnii  p  II  ty  was  so  strong  thit  he  sent 
Ziih    iitt      is(  eit  1111  then  iHisition 

III  it  w  III  I  it  h  II  turned  much 
so  II  Ii  1  il  I  I  I  11  \i  tl  1  Hi  tame  to 
sn  tl  II  II  1  I  i  \  1  u  iiitiii^  diiectly 
*       ■■  '  " •  11   till   1     th  in  a  mile  dis- 


:  far  a' 


•ay 


As  they  rode  from  the  clearing,  they  look- 
ed  back,  and  saw   the  barn  wrapped  in  o 
fiamc;  then  their  faces  were  turned  to 
out,  and  thcj-  w 
Cavalry  Sam  was  fu 


tint 


tins 


w  ide  awake  in  a  moment. 
1  guard  the  pi  isoners,  and 
ti\  e  idvanced  to  meet  the 


He  hid  not  miscalculated  "Very  few  min- 
utes hid  pissed  when  they  emerged  from 
^l^el  md  then  breaking  into  a  trot,  began 
(II  sMug  the  field 

D 11  km  ss  hid  fully  fallen  but  the  Union- 
ists (oulil  see  pliinly  enough  to  tell  that  the 
It  1  lis  n«e  twite  their  own  number  Still 
the>  did  not  hesitate 

lusuth  afliaiis  a  surprisi  loimts  as  half 
of  the  battle 

At  the  proper  moment,  they,  too,  broke 
cover,  and  with  their  horses  going  at  a  gal- 
lop, swept  down  on  the  larger  force. 


t)f  all  things  they  had  least  expected  an 
attack,  and  the  bold  dash  of  the  handful 
made  it  seem  as  though  they  were  strong 


THE  WtUl  LIBRARY. 


atill,  Virginians  fight  well  when  they  fight 
at  all,  and  many  of  them  presenttM)  ii  inild 
front. 

Once  more  the  clash  of  steel  sounded 
sharply  on  the  air,  and  the  field  was  covered 
with  horsemen  who  spurred  hei-e  and  thei-e, 
us  the  battle  surged  from  side  to  side. 

But,  while  the  boys  in  gray  fought  against 
liope,  CaiTington's  men  were  firm  and 
orderly. 

Every  blow  seemed  to  take  effect;  and, 
despite  their  inferiority  of  numbers,  they 
began  to  drive  the  struggle  further  north. 

Seeing  just  what  was  needed,  Sam  gather- 
ed a  dozen  men  around  him,  and  then  made 
a  dash  into  the  center  of  the  Confederates, 
theyl 
ifusion 

Their  leader  sliiiutea  in  vain  for  them  to 
stand  firm  ;  tln-y  ]i;iil  faced  the  musiir  long 
enough;  and,  in  a  miifused  I'tody,  they 
wheeled  and  lied  liaek  to  the  woods  from 
which  they  ha<i  come. 

Tliey  were  followed  for  halt  a  mile,  but 
Sam  M-aa  wise  enough  to  be  satisfied  with 
a  pari  ial  success,  and  he  did  not  try  to  cap- 

Wiieeliug,  he  hurried  his  men  bacli  to 
where  he  had  left  the  prisoners  under 
guard;  and,  makingadetour  to  secure  those 
left  at  Eager's  house,  was  soon  on  his  way 
hack  to  camp. 

And  81),  three  hours  after  dark,  he  reports 
eU  ti>  his  superior  officer,  and  exhibited 
three-sciore  prisoners  to  prove  the  truth  of 
his  story. 

The  day's  work  gained  fresh  honors  for 
him  and  dealt  the  enemy  another  blow,  but 
it  was  only  one  of  a  series  of  sharp  cav- 
alry encounters  which  were  taking  place  in 
the  valley. 

Sheridan's  men  were  roving  at  their  will 
just  then,  but  the  Confederates  were  at  all 
times  ready  to  show  their  teeth. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

AFTER   THREE   YEAKS. 

Several  days  passed  without  the  occur- 
rence of  anything  of  particular  interest  be- 
Early  iuul  oiice  attempted  to  surprise 
Sheiid.in,  wlun  iln-  I'Dices  of  the  latter  lay 
near  Fi^Iji'i- s  liill,  Imt  it  bad  been  a  dis- 
astrous iind.i  tal;iiiK  Inr  the  Confederates, 
and  matfi-is  assumed  a  (luiet  aspect. 

The  Uuiouists  had  roved  freely  through 
the  valley  until  satisfied  Avitli  their  work, 
and  tbey  thouf,'lit  Early  so  much  weakened 
by  repealed  losses  as  t(j  be  harmless. 

Such  lieing  the  case.  Captain  Carrington 
acteii  on  an  idea  he  had  long  had  in  his 
mind. 

He  wished  to  look  once  more  upon  the 
scenes  of  his  boyhood.    True,  not  a  build 


cordial  welcome  from  Vida,  Augusta  not  be- 
ing at  home. 

The  hand  of  war  had  spared  their  estate 
from  devastation.  The  Confederates  knew 
Augusta  to  be  in  warm  sympathy  with  their 
cause;  and  Vida  was  known  to  be  equally 
devoted  to  the  other  side. 

Had  they  beeu  men,  this  state  of  affairs 
would  not  have  saved  them ;  but,  even  in 
war,  a  true  man  feels  a  chivalrous  regard 
for  tlie  fair  sex. 

So,  in  the  old  home,  the  sisters  lived  with 
no  protectors,  e.vcept  the  half  dozen  negroes 
who  had  clung  to  their  fortunes  through  all. 
\.t  times,  lawless  men  of  both  armies  had 
made  rather  free  about  the  place,  but 
they  could  conscientiously  offer  little  com- 
plaint. 

Cavalry  Sam  was  anxious  to  see  them 
after  the  long  years  of  separatiou.  He  was 
not  one  to  forget  old  ties,  and  for  the  daugh- 
tersot  Virginia  he  could  never  feel  less  than 
manly  respect  and  regard. 

Perhaps  he  would  nut  be  welcomed  if  he 
went,  but  it  was  worth  testing. 

So  he  gained  the  necessary  leave  of  ab- 
sence, and  rode  away  one  morniug  accom- 
panied by  'Ziah.  First  of  all,  they  visited 
the  Carrington  plantation. 

It  was  a  gloomy  home-coming  for  the 
young  master.  Not  even  a  cabin  stood  on 
I  he  broad  estate. 

The  ruins  of  the  old  mansion  lay  as  Jake 
Shelley's  rude  hand  had  left  them,  Desola- 
I  ion  was  everywhere,  and  it  was  not  strange 
ihat  Samuel  Carriugtoii's  face  grew  sad. 

His  mind  went  back  to  the  old  days  when 
lie  was  a  boy.    Then  all  was  peace  and  pros- 


Tho  fields  bore  abundant  crops  and  the 
well-treated  negroes  sang  at  their  work  as 
gray-haired  Roger  Carrington  sat  on  the 
l)iazza  and  watched  them  in  languid  com- 
fort. Well  loved  had  he  been  by  all,  th  s 
aged  sireof  Cavalry  Sam. 

••  While  he  sat  thus,  probably  the  boy  was 
in  tile  |,iiit -^  ^\  ith  Ziali  .Stroiit,  still  hunting 
some  ^ain.-,  or  li-l.'iiiiig  t(i  a  tlii-illing  story 
astli.'>-  lay  uii.l.  i-llie  wliisperui- trees. 

How  long  the  captain  reflected  he  never 
knew,  for  Ziah,  after  keeping  silence  for 
awhile,  deemed  it  best  to  arouse  him  from 
his  gloomy  thoughts.  Sam  started,  showed 
more    animation,  and    then   they  moved  on 

Their  Iliad  v,a>  llie  .same  Sam  had  traveled 
the  d:\\  w  li.ii  AiiL-'usta  told  him  of  the  firing 
on  Fori  Siiiiiier,  hut  that,  too,  had  changed. 
An  army  had  parsed  along,  and  it  had  been 
widened  to  allow  the  passage  of  their 
guns— it  scarcely  seemed  like  the  same 
place. 

As  they  broke  through  the  last  wood  upon 
the  "Warbnrton  estate,  a  far  different  view 
was  given  them. 

War  had  touched  the  place  with  a  gentle 
hand.  The  buildings  were  undisturbed. 
Even  the  fields,  though  less  cared  for,  were 
familiar  in  every  way. 

They  rode  at  once  to  the  front  of  the  man- 
sion. No  one  was  visible,  but  Sam'  s knock 
soon  brought  a  stout  negress  to  the  door. 
She  started,  recognizing  him  at  once,  and 
looked  alarmed,  but  he  put  out  his  hand 
with  a  smile. 

"  HoH'  do  you  do.  Aunt  Molly,"  he  said. 

••Bii^s  ilie  Lord,  Massa  Sam;  am  it  yon, 
fi'i'    ■■''        i'i~  'ii--'^r  nebber  again  expected 

"  "-        1^    l:-  happen,  auntie,  and  I  have 

com  ,1  .:  altermany years." 

■  1  -o  ^la.i  lo  ~, ,_  yuu,  bress  the  Lord,  I  is; 
but  aiii'  you  a  puttin'  your  head  in  de  lion's 
mouth?" 

•'How  so?" 

"  Jake  Shelley's  gang  was  here  only  Itis' 
night." 

"They  had  better  keep  away,"  said  Sam, 
frowning.  Some  day  I'll  get  after  that 
wretch  and  make  him  howl.  Are  the  ladies 
in,  auntie?" 

"  Boff  Ob  dem,  sah." 

"Will  j;ou  ask  them  if  they  want  to  see 
Sam  Carrington  once  more?" 

Aunt  Molly  retired,  but  soon  reappeared 
to  say  that  the  ladies  "would  be  pleased  to 
see  (  ainaui  Samuel  Carrington." 

"  Which  et  them  bade  you  utter  that  long 


'Twon't  be  the 
fust  time  I've  ben  tliar." 
"Bress  you,   Massa 'Ziah,  no,"  addetl    the 

Cavalry  Sam  entered.  Declining  Aunt 
Molly's  guidance,  Cavalry  Sam  went  straight 
to  the  old,  familiar  rocfm",  where  he  had  so 
often  been  in  the  past.  He  rapped.  A  voice 
bade  him  enter,  and  he  passed  within. 

The  Misses  Warbuitou  were  there.  They 
were  both  standing,  and  one  of  them  came 
forward  impi-tuuuslv  and  grasped  his  hand. 
It  was  Vula,  luit  scarcely  the  Vida  of  the  old 
ejioeh.  Three  years  had  developed  the 
pretty,  graceful  girl  into  a  maguitieeut 
womaii~uue  so  royally  beautiful  that  the 
visitor  was  amazed;  but  in  her  face  and 
eyes  were  all  of  the  old  lights.     She  was  the 


ulf  1 


II  so  glad  to  see  you!"  she 
I  iiilit  his  hand.   "  It  brings 

I   a  calm  voice,  "am  also 

III  Liirrington." 

who  spoke,  and  she  came 
aeful  dignity  and  held  out 
igh  there  was  no  political 


She  had  changed  but  little.  He  saw  the 
same  calm,  beautiful  and  queenly  girl  who 
had  told  him  of  the  news  from  Sumier. 

He  held  both  their  hands,  but  looked  at 
Augusta. 

"I  am  not  Captain  Carrington;  lam  Sam,' 
he  said,  a  smile  crossing  his  bronzed  face. 

"  The  war  journals  say  you  area  captain 
and  a  brave  soldier.  It  reminds  me  of  the 
old  days  when  you  were  'Mad  Sam  '  to  hear 
them  tell  of  yoiir  dashing  ways.  No  wonder 
the  North  is  [iroud  of  you,  and  calls  you 
'Cavalry  Sam,' as  you  lead  your  legions  on 
such  devastating  raids." 

There  was  a  tinge  of  sarcasm   and  bitter- 


ness in  her  voioe,  which  took  off  any  flavor 
of  flattery  which  might  be  imagined,  and 
Vida  hastened  to  say  : 

'  For  shame,  Augusta;  do  no  begin  to 
quarrel  so  soon." 

"lam  sure  there  will  be  no  quarreling,' 
said  the  soldier,  "  for  I  have  come  only  as 
'Sam.' " 

Having  thus  prefaced  their  interview, 
they  seated  themselves,  and  an  animated 
conversation  began. 

Augusta  said  no  bitter  words;  and  under 


youthful  days  forever  in  the  rear. 

The  gallant  captain  had  not  seen  a  hap- 
pier moment  for  years.  He  had  met  hand- 
some women  when  in  Paris,  but,  after  all 
none  were  equal  to  those  of  the  Old  Domin- 
ion. Ho  was  a  loyal  man  in  his  devotion  to 
his  state  women,  whatever  Augusta  might 
think  ot  his  |,olitieal  heresies. 

\  ia  iii;.i:  'il  liim  most  of  all.  She  had 
so.  iii.ii  iii,:i  :i  ihiiii  when  he  went  away 
till  IP  .\  I  ais  bi  lore;  but  time  had  made  her 
a  woman,  gloriously  beautiful,  with  a 
kindly  look  in  her  dusky  eyes.  He  thought 
of  the  letter  of  warning  she  had  once  sent 
him,  and  wondered  if  she  rejnembered  it 
as  well :  but  the  memory  of  her  warm  greets 
lug  was  a  sufficient  proof  that  she  had  not 
grown  cold  toward  him. 

Conversation  drifted  to  national  affairs. 

"The  war  will  soon  end,"  said  Augusta, 
sadly. 

"And  then  I  shall  return  to  the  old  plan- 
tation," the  captain  answered,  with  a  sigh. 

"Can  you  again  assume  the  ways  ot  a  Vir- 
ginian?" 

"I  have  never  abandoned  them.  lam  all 
Virginian  at  hearl,  and  there  is  no  place  like 

"  I  fear  we  shall  never  settle  back  into  the 
old,  jileasaut  life.  Itis  too  much  to  expect 
that  Villa  and  1  will  be  here  with  you  on  our 
riiiilil,  and  Alfred  Penrock  on  the  left,  as  in 


him." 

"He  makes  a  gallant  soldier." 

"  He  is  a  Penrock,"  answered  Sam,  proud- 
ly, "  and  if  he  had  not  so  long  been  a  staff 
officer  he  would  be  even  more  than  a  colonel 
to-day." 

"  Tou  might  have  been  as  much,  to-day,  if 
yon  had  gone  with  the  South,  Sam." 

"  Perhaps  1  might  have  beeu  a  clod,"  he 


Hills;  they  might  have   done  worse  had   I 
given  them  a  chance." 

"Ah!  you  are  an  irreclaimable  traitor,  ' 
said  Augusta,  with  a  lightness  which  sur- 
prised Sam. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

AN   UNPLEASANT   INTERRUPTION. 

Captain  Can-ington  was  surprised  and  de- 
lighted at  the  friendly  ways  of  the  sisters, 
especially  as  he  had  known  Augusta  to  be  so 
firm  a  sympathizer  with  the  Siuith.  He  re- 
nieinbered  the  reproailies  she  had  heaped 
upon  him  when  first  he  aiinouined  his  inten- 

llailhehail  time  lor  i ell.  etiou,  he  might 
perhajis  ha\e  reinemiiered  the  advice  given 
a  boy  by  hisaged  father: 

"Don't  try  to  understand  a  sex  that 
don't  understand  themselves." 

But  Sam  «  as  not  in  a  cynical  mood.    Be- 


passeil.      He 

and  heart. 

Time  glided  rapidly  away.  Noon  came 
and  passed,  and  Sam  once  more  sat  at  the 
table  with  the  Misses  Warburton  as  of  yore. 
'Ziah  had  been  invited  to  join  therepast,  but 
he  had  already  gorged  himselt  with  Aunt 
Molly's  hoe-cakes.  He  thanked  the  ladies, 
and  said  a  few  rather  graceful  things,  and 
then  subsided  into  his  corner  in  the  kitchen. 

Sam  and  the  sisters  went  over  the  events 
of  their  lives  during  the  last  three  years 
more  fully. 

Both  Augusta  and  Vida  had  tried  the  life 
of  hospital  nurses  in  the  past,  but  the  former 
had  soon  tired  of  it ;  and  when  A'ida  went 
to  Washington  to  ,1,,  what  she  e.nild  for  the 
1  niiin,  -OHIO  thirk-h.  adi-il  otli.iai  had  sus- 
liei-l"il  liei'  uoo-l  lailli,  l)i-i-an-o  she  was  from 
the  .^oiitli,  anil  sue  hail  been  sent  back  to 
till- Ciiiibileraie  lin.  -  It  ^^■;:-  lu-r  first  and 
last  attempt. 


18 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


There  were  no  long  pau 
sation;  they  had  enough 
last  for  a  long  time,  and 
gratified  at  the  state  o£  affai 
unless  the  signs  of  the 


in  the  conver- 

talk  about  to 

Sam   was  highly 

Very  soon, 

decep  ■ 


war  would  be  brought  to  an  end,  and 
men  he  hoped  to  rebuild  on  the  old  estate, 
and  resume  his  friendly  association  with 
such  of  his  old  friends  as  had  survived  the 
struggle. 

As  clouds  form  on  a  sunny  sky,  so  this 
pleasant  visit  was  inten-upted. 

Aunt  Molly,  from  the  moment  that  she 
saw  Sam,  was  filled  with  a  fear  that  harm 
would  come  to  him.  With  her,  the  distinc- 
tions between  Unionist  and  Confederate  were 
overbalanced  by  other  things,  and  her  heart 
was  warm  toward  the  big  soldier,  who,  as  a 
boy.  had  eaten  hoe-cake  in  her  kitchen,  and 
praised  her  culinary  work. 

So,  while  the  others  visited,  she  watched 
for  breakers  ahead,  and  breaker.s  appeared 
all  too  soon. 

From  out  a  wood  to  the  rear  ol  tUe  house 
came  a  score  of  men  she  was  not  loug  in 
recognizing.  They  were  ragged,  ill-favored 
fellows,  dressed  in  ordinary  clothing,  but  all 
were  armed,  and  their  manner  was  lawless 
aud  swaggering. 

'Ziah  had  gone  in  to  talk  with  Sam  and 
the  ladies,  and  all  were  startled  when  Aunt 
Molly  abruptly  invaded  the  room. 

•■Oh!  de  -....,1  L..nl!-'slic-asp,-(l,  breath- 
lessly, "vi-ii  iiiii.r  .loll,.  ::,-t  (,ut  c' .lis  ri-ht 
away,  Mas.-;i  Sam.     1),   l'l,ili.-.tin.'san-.-.,niiir. 


Jl  am  .l.ik..  Mii-Uey  an'  his  gang 
.1  l>..r.l.  .Massa  Sam,  deywill  kill 
1  reckon  not,"  said  he,  coolly. 
tiiey?  1  want  a  look  at  them." 
Dey  are  (tomin'  dat-a-way. 


•  Where 


Oh! 


mercy 

He  waited  to  hear  no  more,  but  strode  to 
where  he  could  view  the  eastern  field. 
Thei  e  as  she  had  said,  a  score  of  rough-look- 
ing fellows  were  approaching  the  house  with 
Jake  Shelley  striding  at  their  head. 
"  Bushwackeis!"  said  'Ziah,  calmly. 
"You  must  hide,"  said  Augusta,  her  fair 
face  still  pale.  "  We  have  not  a  fighting 
man  on  the  place,  and  you  cannot  resist 
them  alone.  We  will  conceal  you  in  the 
attic  and  get  them  away  as  soon  as  possible. 
They  will  not  remain  long." 

■Don't  fear  for  us,"  said  Carrington, 
calmly.  "They  do  not  suspect  we  are  here, 
aud  you  have  more  to  fear  than  we.  Rather 
than  have  trouble,  we  will  keep  out  of  sight, 
though  nothing  would  please  me  more  than 
to  get  a  chance  at  Jake  Shelley.  I  have  not 
forgotten  how  he  once  hunted  me  with 
bloodhounds." 

"  Pay  the  debt  some  other  time,  and  when 
the  odds  are  iu  your  favor,"  said  Vida, 
iiuickly.  "  For  now,  go  to  the  attic,  and  do 
not  leave  it  under  any  consideration.  These 
bushwhacker  gangs  often  come  here,  but  we 
know  h.iw  t.i  manage  them.  We  have  let- 
ters (.(  in  .>ti-.ti.,n  from  numerous  Southern 
leadei-s,  ain.ai-  tlicm  General  Early,  aud 
they  will  II. It  daiv  molest  us.  Come  with 
me,  li.iili  ..1  \  .111,  and  I  will  show  you  that 
weari'  pr..|iai  ...l  t.ir  emergencies." 

■■.lii-i  a<  v.. II  say,  "  answered  Sam,  smiling, 
•■  W.- u  I  hi. I,.  :  hut  if  those  fellows  get  un- 
ruly \  I,  .  I  .  \  I ...  t  lis  to  sally  forth  in  our 
mi.^hi      ,     ,    :  ,  ,:■  :ii,.  them." 

I'ffect,  for,  really,  he 
le  ease.  Jake  Shelley 
I'lngh  to  commit  any 
•ss  .,f  Jubal  Early, 
whi.lo  Southei-n  Con- 
leu.Mu.y  :  aii.i  ii,.,iml.  it  was  possible  uo  real 
harin  woul.l  ccini.-  ot  liis  visit,  it  was  just  as 
probable  that  it  would  result  in  a  fight 
which  would  go  hard  for  him  and  all  his 
friends, 

Vida    quickly   led   the 
Apparently,  the  loner  sp 

imfiuished  roiiMi,  Imt  Sam,  ^vll.l  lia.l  i.lavi-il 
theremany  a  ihiv  in  his  h,,\h....i|  ii..ti'.-i.d 
that  it  seemed  a  lVill.>  sli..ri.a''lh.iii  ..t  ol.l 

The  girl  led  til. ^  «a\  t.i  ih.- ,i.,nli,  ,  m-iid 
To  allappearanc'S.  tli.r..  was  .ml  v  a  blank 
wall  there,  com  I  H,.v,-.l  ..|  latuin;^  an.l  moi'tar 
but  she  touclicd  a  hi.l.l.ii  spnn^'  an. I  a  por- 
tion ot  the  wall  tlie  SI/..;  (It  a  d.M.r  receded 
revealing  a  small  room  inside.  ' 

"Enterl"  she  said,  quickly.  "You  will 
And  aocomodations  there,  and  means  of  se- 
<;uring  the  door.  Now,  I  implore  you,  re- 
maiu  quiet  until  you  hear  me  ring  a  bell  at 
this  entrance.  That,  and  that  alone,  will  be 
the  signal  that  all  is  safe.  Until  then,  you 
must  stay  inside  and  make  no  sound.  Do 
you  promise?" 

■You  can   depend   onus;  only,  if  thcii- is 


actual  trouble,  you  must  let  us  know.  Two 
determined  men  can  do  a  good  deal  against 
such  a  crowd  as  Shelley's  gang.  There,  go 
for  Augusta  will  want  you."  ' 

She  extended  her  hand,  impulsively  it 
lingered  for  a  moment  within  his  own,  and 
then  she  went  away.  Looking  back,  when 
at  the  top  of  the  stairs,  she  saw  the  secret 
door  closed  and  began  to  breath  easier. 

"Youiire  clever,  Cavalry  Sam,"  said  the 
scout.  "You  got  hir  away  withoutactually 
bindiu'  yourself  with  a  promise." 

"  Do  you  siiijpose  I  will  stay  in  here  like  a 
sneak  and  allow  Shelley  to  work  his  vicious 
plans— if  vicious  they  are  ■>  No,  I  shall  keep 
a  close  watch,  and  if  he  gets  ugly  we  will 
sail  ill.  Of  course,  I  had  to  outwardly  yield 
to  the  ladies,  to  save  them  unnecessary 
worry,  but  we  -will  keep  ourselves  well  in- 
tormed  as  to  what  is  going  on." 

"Et  only  your  slashers  was  hyer  now 
what  a  harvest  they  could  reap." 
"  We  will  have  Jake  Shelley  some  day." 
They  locked  the  secret  room  carefully  It 
was  a  cunniug  affair,  and  only  one  acquaint- 
ed with  the  attic  would  suspect  its  exis- 
tence;  but,  though  the  room  was  scarcely 
SIX  feet  wide,  the  wall  was  thick  and  bullet 
proof  and  the  door  was  hung  aud  provided 
with  stout  bars. 

This  refuge  had  been  planned  by  the  sis- 
ters and  made  under  their  directions  by 
th.-ir  slaves,  and  more  than  once  it  had  done 
,i;.iii.l  >.-r\ii.-  in  the  past. 

Aui;iista,  alter  being  left  alone,  seemed  to 
los,.  all  r.imposure.  She  sank  into  a  chair 
ami  juessed  her  hands  over  her  heart,  and 
her  lair  face  was  almost  colorless. 

"  Merciful  Heaven !"  she  said,  ■'  what  will 
happen  to  us  nowi'  Jacob  Shelley  has 
sworu  to  apply  the  torch  to  our  house,  and 
It  Sam  interferes  he  will  be  murdered.  It 
may    eveu    be   that    Shelley  knows  of  his 

Bresence  and  is   coming   because   of   that, 
h  !    what  can  we  do  1    He  must  be  saved, 
tor — for  I  love  him!" 

Her  head  dropped  on  her  hand,  and  shesat 
mute  and  motionless,  her  pride  and  strength 


ition  at  sight  of   her  handsome 


with  admi; 
face. 

.  "Evenin',  marm,  evenin',"  he  said,  pull- 
ing off  his  battered  hat  aud  sweeping  one 
foot  back  with  what  li..  nuantforaVaceful 
greeting.     "11.,,,..  i  .,..  ^,.n  wal,  ma?m." 

"Quite  well,  .Mr.  sh,  li.y,-  was  thesteady 
repl^.  "Is,cy..uai..inili,.fieldagain."  ^ 
laas,  weaic  tliat ;  intact,  weare  never 
sti  1  nowadays.  The  invaders  are  on  oursile 
an  It  behooves  me  as  a  leader  o'  a  band  o' 
Virginians  ter  be  up  an'  doiu'." 

i;.i/^^'"'!  V'"'  "''^'■'^  \^'^  """^  '^^  ■^"  S''^'^  a 
little  looil  to  you  aud  your  men." 

"Oh,  we  ain't  jii-essed  fur  time  jest  now. 
in  lact,  we  intended  to  stop.  Much  obleeged 
tur  the  luvertatiou,  though.  Hyer,  you 
warriors,  squat  dowu  on  the  piazza  while  I 
go  lu  an'  take  a  nap.  I  feel  like  easin'  up  a 
bit  on  my  yoke." 

Although  this  was  something  not  included 
in  her  luvitation.  Vida  accepted  the  inevita- 
'at  grace  she  could,  and  stepped 


lid  be  for  herself,  but 


all  gone. 

Brave  enough  she 
she  feared  for  Sam. 

Despite  the  national  gulf  between  them, 
she   had   carried    his   image   iu   her   heart 
thmugh  all  the  dreary  years  of  war. 
""'*""'  '    '"'■'■■"itting  near,  aud  lis- 

•  ..I..',  she  had  hoped  the 
i.  she  scarcely  cared 
Sam  Carrington  back 


Half  au  i 


had  ;;.  . 
was  l..i> 
lawl..~s 
Jeffeis... 


1  he  entrance  ot  \ida  aroused  her  from  re- 
flection, and  she  turned  a  paUid  face  to  her 
younger  sister. 

"Mercy!"  said  the  latter,  whose  face  had 
siiilileiily  erown full  of  color,  "how  pale  you 
ai.-.  \..ii  niiL^r  rally,  Augusta.  The  biish- 
"''"';' '^;'i '■  at  our  door,  and  we  cauuot 
l''-'^  I  .!'■  timi.l  fiiii.    Only  cunning  work  can 


Penrock  imw,    or  i.m-  an 
Coufederatc  sulilicis,"  ,~;: 

"  Can't  we  send  for  aid 
quiry. 

"  I  was  thinking  of  that,  but  it  is  too  late. 
Besides,  I  fearaid  could  not  be  spared.  Come 
let  us  go  and  meet  Jacob  Shelley." 


aside  for  Shelley  to  ei 

„,M?  .^/''ted  for  no  ceremony,  but  strode 
straight  to  where  Augusta  was  trying  to  re- 
gain her  courage.  ^ 

She  heard  his  heavy  footsteps,  started,  and 
grew  pale  again  ;  but  the  very  nearness  of 
the  danger  neived  her  suddenly,  and  she 
turned  a  calm  face  when  he  entered. 

He  at  once  made  himself  at  home.  His 
heavy  form  went  down  on  the  costly  sofa 
and  his  dilapidated  boots  came  to  the  same 
level. 

There  was  a  malicious  pleasure  in  all  he 
did.  Once,  he  had  been  au  overseer  on  the 
plantation,  but  he  had  never  been  al, 
lowed  m  the  mansion;  while,  at  a  laterday, 
he  had  been  discharged  aud  warned  to  keen 
away.  ^ 

Kow,  he  had  come  as  a  conqueror,  he  was 
in  the  places  once  held  as  too  sacred  for  him 
to  tread,  and  with  his  brute  form  extended 
on  the  sofa  he  was  enjoying  the  triumph  of 
a  low  and  vulgar  mind.  ^ 

Trot  out  some  wine,  will  you,  gals 'r"'  he 
nd  coarsely  said. 
i  not  a  particle  of   any  kind  ol 
the  house,"  Vida  calmly  said. 


famil 


sti  in  1 


1    \  lua,  mutiugly, 
was  the  quick  iu- 


ray   to   the 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

A   StJRPRISE   FOR  JACO 

Jake  Shelley  and  his  men  had 
house,  and  were  takmtra  survey  i 
ises. 

Of  late  they  had  r.-.-eived  sunn 

they  moved  it  was  wit 
The  band  had  once  ni 
the  eighteen  men  who 
burtou  house  compris 


iiJmgsari 
h  a  degr 
imbered 


■  wholesome 
',  and  when 
ot  caution, 
-x-score,  but 
i  now  at  the  War- 
11  that  was  left  of 


M.I 


fart 


L-hangcd  his 


leen  warned 
vould  come 
node  of  war- 


In  the  carrying  out  of  his  plans  for  i.i un- 
der he  had  a  bad  habit  of  forgetting  whether 
his  victims  were  loyal  or  disloyal,  and  the 
ex-pnson  birds  who  followed  his  lead  cared 
nothing  so  lougas  they  obtained  booty. 

If  p-^ce  had  been  iu  the  Old  Dominion, 
most  of  them  would  be  in  iail ;  thev  must 
make  hay  while  the  sun  shone 

Shelley  kiiocked  at  the  do, n-  hoi, 1  i  brief 
parley  with  Aunt  M.. II  v,  and  tli.n  \iila  ,ame 
forward  with  au  iu.iui'rin;;  l....k  ..ii  h.r  I  i.r 
She  was  perfectly  calm  outwardly  anil'ilH'. 
vicious  eyes  of  the  bushwhacker  briohtene.l 


We  can  offer  nothing  except  food." 

"No  liquor?    Thunder!      What   if   ; 
ne  should  come  along  and  demand  it!" 

"  Iu  that  case,  we  should  show  them  our 
letters  of  protection  from  General  Early  and 
others,  and  tell  them  to  go  their  way,''  was 
the  q  uiet  reply. 

"Parly  be  "blowed.  He  don't  count  fur 
much  at  the  present  time.  His  army  has 
gone  to  smash,  an'  he  has  all  he  can  do  to 
protect  himself.  He  ain't  much  o'  a  man 
''"^'III-  i'  ^''J'^^-  '•*'<'"'  he  would  have 
saved  the  day  at  Winchester,  an'  kept  the 
inemy  from  t'arin'   the  Shenandoah  all  ter 

"You  must  remember  he  was  strongly 
outnumbered,"  said  Augusta,  who  had  not 
forgotten  that  the  general  had  done  much 
torh.r  own  an.l  Yi. la's  safety. 

Til..  .iiii..,<iii.,ii  .miy  led  the  ruffian  onto 
r.'sh  ixtnn  ajiaii.  i.'s.  He  abused  Generals 
iviily  an.l  I..'.-,  .lett.r.son  Davisand  thewhole 
body  ot  Soiitheru  leaders,  aud  with  each  un- 
reasoiuug  attack,  worked  himself  into  ad- 
ditional fury. 

"  I  don't  b'lieve  but  what  you  have  wine 
in  the  house,"  he  said  anon.  "  I'm  goin'  ter 
look.  Reckon  your  memories  are  gettin' 
pool,  but  the  matter  kin  soon  be  settled. 
L.ead  the  way  to  the  sullar." 

The  ladies  grew  alarmed  and  began  to  re- 
monstrate, and  then,  when  he  would  not 
listen,  showed  theletterfrom  General  Early 
but  he  flung  it  coatemptuously  aside. 

"None  o'  you  tricks  hyer,  my  pretty 
one,"  he  rudely  said.  -'No  tricks  on  oia 
travelers.  Jubal  Early  ain't  o'  any  moreac- 
coiint  to-day  than  Jacob  Shelley,  an'  I'm 
jest  a-goiu'  over  your  fine  house  tersee  what 
km  be  found  fur  the  good  o'  the  Confederate 

Augusta  and  Vida  remonstrated  iu  vain. 
Appeals  and  warnings  were  alike  unheeded. 
Shelley  had  come  to  the  house  with  a  fixed 
purpose,  and  he  was  not  to  be  turned  aside. 
If  he  did  not  change  his  plans,  the  ladies 
would  be  lucky  indeed  if  they  did  .not  meet 
with  person«l  violence  before  he  was 
through.  He  hated  them  because  they  were 
wealthy  and  above  him  in  the  social  scale 
aud  he  intended  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  an- 
noy them  before  he  left. 

He  was  even  contemiilating  the  applica- 
tion of  a  fire-brand  to  the  noble  old  build- 
ing. 

He  pushed  past  the  girls  aud  went  on 
toward  the  cellar.  They  dared  not  oiipose 
him  further,  but,  as  his  heavy  steps  sounded 
on  the  stairs,  stood  together  and  asked  sim- 
ultaueously : 


THE  WA.R  LIBRARY. 


19 


■■What  shall  we  do?" 

It  was  a  question  not  easily  answered,  for 
they  seemed  utterly  helpless.  Against  Shel- 
ley alone,  they  might  possibly  wage  a  suo- 
oesstul  war  by  some  cunuiny  iVick,  but  with 
so  many  men  outside,  resistam-f  was  out  of 
the  question. 

Meanwhile,  Shelley  went  on  and  began 
prowling  about  the  cellar.  Ho  found  every- 
thing exiipt  what  he  wanted,  and  it  soon 
began  to  look  as  though  the  cellar,  at  least, 
contained  no  wine. 

He  was  flinging  barrels  and  boxes  about 
in  a  vicious  soit  ot  a  way,  when  he  came 
upon  a  drygoods  case  which  was  bottom  up- 
permost. It  was  not  tight  enough  to  hold 
any  kind  of  liquid,  but  lie  whirled  it  aside 
out  of  simple  mischief. 

What    followed     rather     surprised    him 

The  removal  of  the  case  did  not  leave  an 


just  then,  looked  not  unlike  a  toad  under  a 
microscope,  and  Shelley,  ^loorly  aided  by  a 
wretched  .lamp,  winked  vigorously  to  decide 
by  a  clearer  vision  whether  the  thing  was 
really  re  man,  as  it  looked  to  be,  or 

The  matter  was  quickly  decided.  The 
daik  object  sprang  up  like  a  flash,  and  Shel- 
ley had  barely  time  enough  to  discover  that 
itwas  a  stout  negro,  when  it  bounded  for- 
ward with  lowered  head  and  aquickness  the 
bushwhacker  could  not  avoid. 

Squarely  in  the  stomach  the  hard  head 
i-k  him,  and  he    went  headlong  back- 


looked  none  too  clean 

Very  little  life  was  left  in  Jacob's  carcass 
for  the  time  being,  and  he  could  only  lay 
and  groan  in  a  most  dismal  fashion.  Just 
then,  he  neither  knew  nor  cared  what  had 
hit  him  ;  he  was  wholly  wrapped  up  in  the 
pain  which  the  heavy  blow  had  left  be- 
hind it. 

Not  so  the  man  who  had  felled  him.  One 
moment  a  broad  smile  widened  his  fat  face; 
then  he  set  the  fallen  lamp  on  a  bo.x,  and 
produced  a  quantity  of  stout  cords  from  his 
pocket. 

"  Hi  yah!"  he  said,  "  I  guess  I's  done  won  de 
tlist  round  in  de  prize  tight.  I'll  tie  up  dis 
p'ison  sarpeut  right  away.  We  uns  don't 
want  no  sech  white  trash  round  hyer." 

Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  his  nimble 
Angers  quickly  applied  the  cord  to  Shelley's 
wrists  and  ankles.  The  ruffian  struggled 
somewhat,  but  his  efforts  were  vague  and 
useless,  and  in  the  space  of  five  minutes  the 
negro  had  him  firmly  secured. 

He  then  retreated  a  few  paces. 

■■Golly!  '  he  muttered,  "1  dunno,  but  I've 
spilled  de  fat  in  de  Hre  by  doiu'  dis ;  but  ob 
course,  I  couldn't  let  de  ole  varmint  wring 
my  neck  as  he  would  be  glad  ter  do.  Hi! 
Jake  Shelley,  mebbe  you  won't  crack  de 
oberseer's  whip  round  my  legs  agin  dis 
week." 

The  speaker  reflected  for  a  moment  and 
then  went  up  the  stairs.  The  door  was 
closed,  but  it  yielded  to  his  touch.  He  passed 
through  and  confronted  Augusta  and  Vida. 

■•Cleon!"  they  exclaimed,  together. 

■'  Dat  used  ter  be  my  name,  but  I  is  now 
Edmund  Smith,  private  vallyt  to  Colonel 
Liudenvall." 

The  negro,  who  was  indeed  our  old  friend, 
found  himself  most  warmly  gieeted,  but  he 
scarcely  heeded  that  but  looked  anxiously 
around  the  hall. 

■'  Whar  is  Masso  Sam  an'  'Ziah  ?"  he  asked. 

■'Here!"  answered  a  voice,  and  the  cap- 
tain came  through  an  open  door,  closely 
followed  by  the  scout. 

His  appearance  alarmed  the  Misses  War- 
burton,  and  they  besought  him  to  return  to 
the  attic,  but  Edmund  also  crowded  forward 
for  a  share  of  attention. 

■'  Wait  a  bit,  Massa  Sam  ;  I's  got  a  case  ob 
yaller  fever  in  de  cellar  an'  don't  know  what 
to  do  wid  it." 

"  A  case  of  yellow  fever  ?" 

■■  In  odder  words,  Jake  Shelley.  He  in- 
truded on  my  personal  property,  and  I  had 
to  tie  him  up  fur  safe  keepin'." 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

CAUED  TIGEKS. 

Edmund  made  his  announcement  nonchal- 
antly, but  it  fell  on  his  hearers  with  start- 
ling force.  They  saw  further  than  he,  and  it 
was  pretty  sure  that  a  prolonged  absence  on 
Shelley's  part  would  be  investigated  by  his 
men.  This  would  of  course  result  in  a  dis-  j 
covery  of  the  facts  of  the  case,  and  then  the 
wrath  of  the  bushwhackers  would  go  to  fe- 
ver heat.  I 


Every  one  except  Cavalry  Sam  uttered  an 
e.\clamatiou  of  dismay. 

How  come  you  in  the  house  ?"  he  asked 
I  trotted  ober  to  see  de  old   place,   an 


when  I  seed  de  fellers  out  front,  I  slipped 
into  de  cellar  by  de  back  window.  .Test  den, 
down  come  dat  nosiu'  Jake  Shelley.  I 
didn't  wantno  row  wid  him,  an'  I  hid  under 
a  box,  but  he  tipped  it  over  an'  I  had  ter 
lay  him  out  ter  sabe  my  own  bacon." 

The  last  words  were  said  apologetically, 
for  he  saw  that  they  were  not  pleased  with 
his  work,  but  even  then  *Ziah  shook  his  head 
gloomily. 

"  You've  got  us  inter  a  pretty  pickle,   you 


gusta. 

"  Wait,"  said  Sara,  coolly.  "  We  must  put 
our  wits  at  work  and  save  ourselves.  Oth- 
erwise, as  you  say,  we  are  in    a   quicksand. 

Onee  let  the  bushwlKickeis  suspect  Shelley 
has  iiH-t  witli  misfertuiii' anil  tlic-y  will   tear 

••■l\,ivde"Luiil,  I 'I'liilnV 'ioteiid  ter  do 
harm,"  declared  KdmuuU,  in  leal  distress. 

'■Don't  you  lament,  my  colored  friend, 
but  save  your  muscle  for  a  more  pressing 
emergency.  Has  any  one  here  a  plan  to  of- 
fer?" 

"  Can't  we  send  for  help  ?"  said  Vida. 

"Yes,  yes,"  added  Augusta,  "send  Cleon 
to  General  Early,  or  to— to  your  friends,  cap- 
tain." 

"  And  have  them  arrive  only  to  And  the 
house  burned  to  the  ground.  That  would 
be  the  only  result.  I  have  an  idea  working 
in  my  mind;  let  me  perfect  it." 

Sam  stared  straigbt  at  the  wall,  and  the 
others  fell  to  talking  iu  subdued  voices.  Ed- 
mund was  shown  the  dilemma  into  which  he 
had  plunged  them  by  capturing  Shelley,  but 
they  could  not  very  well  blame  him.  Still, 
the  situation  was  serious.  The  bushwhack- 
ers might  at  any  minute  knock  at  the  door 
to  inquire  for  their  leader,  and  then  the 
magazine  would  explode,  as  it  were. 

Carrington  soon  aroused. 

"  I  have  the  idea,"  he  said. 

"  What  is  it'/"'  Augusta  quickly  asked. 

"One  which  suspends  our  chances  by  a 
hair,  as  I  may  say;  a  resort  so  desperate  that 
even  I  am  in  doubt." 

"Name  it,  Sam,  name  it,"  said  'Ziah. 

"We  must  get  the  other  bushwhackers 
into  the  cellar." 

"  A  good  idea,  but  how  can  we  do  it  ?" 

"  Simply  by  informing  them  that  Shelley 
is  there,  and  that  he  wants  them  to  enter 
and  help  drink  the  wine  he  had  found 
there." 

'Ziah  shook  his  head. 

"It  won't  work." 

"Why  not?" 

"  They  won't  walk  inter  any  sech  trap  as 
that." 

"  Perhaps  not,  but  I  think  they  will.  They 
do  not  suspect  there  is  an  enemy  near,  or 
that  Shelley  has  run  against  a  snag,  and  no- 
body loves  wine  better  than  they.  Would  it 
be  anything  strange  for  the  whole  gang  to 
go  down  when  invited  to  a  free  drink '/" 

There  was  reason  in  his  argument,  but  it 
took  some  time  to  fully  persuade  his  com- 
panions. 

This  being  done,  thev  moved  promptly. 
Edmund  was  directed  to' slip  out  of  the  house 
by  the  rear,  regain  the  horse  he  had  left  at 
the  edge  of  the  wood,  and  ride  full  speed  to 
the  Union  camp,  and  the  first  step  was  taken 
in  the  plan  when  the  negi-o  went  away  as  in- 
dicated. 

He  gained  the  wood  undiscovered,  and 
then,  there  was  no  doubt  but  that  he  would 
ride  as  fast  as  his  horse  could  go. 

"Now,"  said  Cavalry  Sam,  coolly,  "  you 
had  better  send  out  a  good  dinner  to  the 
outside  bushwhackers.  It  will  do  more  to 
keep  them  quiet  than  anything  else  in  the 
world." 

This  idea  was  also  acted  upon,  and  as  Aunt 
Molly  had  the  meal  already  prepared,  the 
bushwhackers  were  soon  busy  in  getting 
outside  of  it. 

Sam  remembered  the  drugged  wine  at  the 
Eager  house,  and  would  have  given  them  a 
taste  of  the  same  stufi',  but,  unluckily,  there 
was  not  a  drug  in  the  house. 

An  hour  passed,  and  Edmund  was  believed 
to  be  at  the  Union  camp.  Another  such  in- 
terval of  grace,  and  aid  would  come. 

But  the  bushwhackers  were  growing  un- 
easy. Night  was  not  far  away,  and  they  had 
tired  of  their  position  on  the  bare  piazza. 

They  always  obeyed  Shelley,  but  it  looked 
just  then  as  though  he  was  monopolizing 
all  the  good  things  of  life. 

Fnially,  one  ot  them  knocked  at  the  door. 
Aunt  Molly,  who  was  displaying  remarkable 
courage,  answered  the  summons. 


fhy   Shelley 


The  man  wanted  to  know 
tarried  so  long. 

She  retired  to  the  sitting-room,  and  then 
returned  to  tell  tlic  man  that  Shelley  would 
be  ready  to  move  iu  just  half  an  hour. 

The  bushwhacker  growled  disconsolately, 
but  went  sullenly  back  to  his  comrades,  and 
another  wait  began. 

The  ladies  vainly  urged  Sam  and  'Ziah  to 
save  themselves  by  flight,  which  they  could 
easily  do,  but  they  were  not  so  craven  a^ 
that. 

They  very  w.-ll  kn.-w  that  when  Shelley's 
misfoi'tuiie  was  known,  n()tliing  could  save 
the  mansion  from  .lestiuc-lioii,  and  the  girls 
would  pi<iipalily  laie  no  ketter. 

When  they  weieiu  turu  urged  to  flee,  they 
refused  to  leave  their  home.  They  had  let- 
ters of  protection  from  prominent  South- 
erners, and  they  would  not  be  driven  away. 

Augusta  frequently  looked  at  Carrington 
with  admiring  eyes.  How  noble  he  had 
grown  since  the  old  days. 

Such  a  man  was  her  oeau  ideal  of  all  that 
was  grand  and  manly,  and  more  than  ever 
she  wished  he  had  taken  sides  with  the 
South. . 

Still— well,  it  was  merely  a  matter  of  opin- 
ion, and  she  could  not  feel  harshly  toward 
him  if  he  did  wear  the  army  blue  of  the  in- 
vaders. 

The  discontent  among  the  bushwhackers 
began  to  increase,  and  Carrington  plainly 
saw  that  their  last  resort  must  be  tried.  H!e 
laid  his  plans  for  the  grand  attempt,  but,  as 
every  moment  counted,  delayed  as  long  as 
possible. 

Another  half  hour  ought  to  bring  the  boys 
in  blue. 

Other  events  were  destined  to  occur  first. 

Cavalry  Sam  watched  with  a  keen  scrutiny, 
and  when  he  saw  that  the  iron  was  hot,  he 
struck. 

The  discontent  of  the  bushwhackers  had 
grown  to  a  sullen  fury,  and  he  knew  they 
would  wait  no  longer,  while  further  excuse 
would  only  serve  to  awaken  their  suspicion 
that  something  was  wrong. 

Once  more  Aunt  Molly  went  to  the  door, 
called  one  of  the  men,  and  in  a  voice  re- 
markiible  for  its  steadiness,  told  them  that 
Shelley  had  just  awakened  from  a  brief 
sleep,  that  he  was  sorry  it  was  so  late,  and 
that  they  would  depart  at  once. 

First,  however,  each  and  every  man  could 
have  a  drink  of  old  wine  by  stepping  down 
into  the  cellar. 

■'Will  you  come,  chillun?"  the  iiegress 
asked. 

Would  they  ?  The  question  was  unneces- 
sary. 

Their  ugly  mood  vanished  at  once,  and 
they  made  a  rush  inside  the  house. 

"Bar's  de  doah,"  continued  Aunt  Molly, 
"an'  Massa  Shelley  is  already  down  dar.  Go 
right  down  an'  help  yourselves." 

Pushing  each  other  in  their  eagerness,  the 
rough  fellows  went  down — every  man  of 
them. 

Then  the  door  was  firmly  secured,  and 
they  were  in  the  trap. 

they  could  not  long  be  held,  for. 


of  the  house  where  he  could  be  used  as  a 
shield,  if  need  be,  the  cheat  would  soon  be 
discovered,    and    the    bushwhackers   were 

_,  ^ „--    odig  ou( 

The  place  thr 
t«red  the  cellar,  was  only  a  small  opening  to 
admit  the  light,  and  even  that  had  been 
walled  up  by  the  Unionists  while  thev 
waited. 

A  brief  and  ominous  silence  followed  the 
caging  of  the  gang.  The  little  group  above 
was  strangely  calm. 

The  men  were  soldiers  and  accustomed  to 
danger,  but  in  this  emergency  even  Augusta 
and  Vida  liad  rallied  and  were  showing  their 
heritage  of  courage. 

"Thar  will  be  a  squall  pooty  soon,"  said 
'Ziah,  grimly. 

"De  Unioners  ain't  in  sight,"  said  Aunt 
Molly,  returning  from  a  pilgrimage  to  the 
front  door. 

"  It  is  as  though  we  were  standing  on  a 
volcano,"  said  Vida  with  a  little  shiver. 

"  Let  us  hope  that,  however  much  the  in- 
ternal elements  may  froth  and  foam,  thev 
will  not  succeed  in  getting  out  of  the 
crater,"  said  Sam,  with  a  lightness  he  did 
not  feel. 

"I  b'lieve  they  went  in  after  the  crrejy- 
tliiir,"  added  'Ziah,  willing  to  help  in  a  good 
cause. 

"That's  a  bad  pun;  one  we  would  never 
comprehend  if  we  didn't  know  what  they 
did  go  after.    Don't  try  again,  'Ziah." 

"  Hark  !"  said  .\ugusta. 

A   muirmn-  of    voices    earn*'  from    below, 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


the 


and  then  quiok  footsteps  were  heard 
opllar  stairs. 

A  hand  was  laid  on  the  door-latch,  and  a 
movement  made  to  push  it  open.  It  remain- 
ed fast,  and  a  curse  followed. 

Then  came  a  vigorous  push  and  another 
hum  of  voices.  They  cculd  hear  nothing, 
but  they  knew  the  stairway  wa.s  full  of 
men,  and  that  the  volcano  was  beginning  to 
boil. 

A  vigorous  pounding  sounded  at  the  door, 
but  the  little  party  remained  silent.  'Ziah 
proved  his  courage  by  calmly  taking  a  chew 
of  tobacco,  but  Aunt  Molly  went  hurriedly 
to  the  frontdoor. 

The  boys  in  blue  were  not  in  sight. 

Twice  the  bushwackers  knocked  at  the 
door,  and  then,  when  they  failed  to  get  an 
answer,  deep  curses  began  to  roll  through 
their  ranks. 

Whether  they  yet  suspected  a  trap  was 
uncertain,  but  it  was  pretty  sure  that  they 
intended  to  get  out  without  delay. 

A  heavy  pressure  was  brought  to  bear  on 
the  door,  and  it  creaked  on  its  hinges;  but, 
beside  the  original  bolts,  it  had  been  so 
strengthened  by  barricading  that  it  did  not 
move. 

Of  course  the  bushwackers'  next  move 
was  to  shout  vigorously,  but  even  that  did 
them  no  good. 

The  little  garrison  kept  quiet,  scarcely 
stirring  except  when  Aunt  Molly  trotted  to 
the  door  to  look  for  the  Union  troops  that 
did  not  come. 

A  brief  lull  followed  below,  and  then 
came  a  new  sound.  It  was  a  sharper  pound- 
ing against  the  door,  indicating  that  a  board 
had  been  obtained  with  which  they  intend- 
ed to  demolish  the  door  panels. 

Sam  and  Ziah  were  ready  for  this  move. 
Short,  stout  boards,  with  a  hammer  and 
somespik'-;  lay  iloscat  hand,  and  as  secrecy 
waanoloii^'i  oi  u^i-,  tliey  began  to  nail  the 
board.s  ai-i  n^.  t  h.'  door. 

Another  iull  i-um-  in  the  bushwackers' 
movement,  and  then,  as  though  they  had 
suspei^ted  the  .state  of  affairs,  they  broke 
into  y<ills  and  curses  which  were  blood- 
curdling. 

The  volcano  was  at  last  in  full  motion, 
and  woe  be  to  the  party  above  if  it  broke 
loose. 

The  boys  in  blue  were  still  invisible ! 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

nCKLE      FOKTtJNE. 

Matters  soon  went  from  bad  to  worse  in 
the  cellar.  The  bushwhackers  had  found 
out  two  thmgs  for  certain. 

The  first  was  that  there  was  no  wine 
in  the  place,  the  second  that  Jake  Shelley 
was  not  there. 

These  two  poinls  beinp 
above  provim;  to  lie  f; 
have  lleea  >'  ii|.i:|  iialoci 
eeived  tlial  i  n    s   i\  .ao  in 

As     thi-     .■  .iJMolioU      .1 

they  ga\-.'  tli.  Ir  i  a'_;-.' full  play.  Tli.-ii-  .airses 
and  usel.'— \  ilN  mail..- til. ■  \v.iiiioii  >lii\iM-iu 
the  hallal...^.■.  and  .ally  that    tli.- ■   had 

f!  t-!i'' !   :t       ti   1 :    ly  away,  uud    i'uslled    up    to 


nd  the  door 
they  would 
ley  not  per- 

upoii  them. 


■  I  ,  I  .     !iu  I.- party  above  "  held  the 

i: and  Cavalry  Sara  actual- 
ly lau:  li  ■  :  ,1  ;i  ■  hoaril  them  howl— not  be- 
cause In-  I.  ^aid.d  ii,r  matter  in  a  joking, 
light,  l)Ut  h..au^.>  th.- i-onia^M' ot'  the  sieters 
must  bi^.sa^taiu.-.l  as  I,.iil'  as  p.issible. 

"They  h.-in  I,  i- east-  ..IT,"  sai.l  the  scout, 
anon,  as  thu  yells  suddenly  sulisided. 

"Can  it  be  they  have  given  up?"  asked 
Vida. 

"Not  much.  They  are  on  the  Injun  tack 
now.  A  r"dski  .  is  always  the  most  danger- 
ous whiai  he  is  still,  an'  you  kin  bet  them 
varmint.s  are  plottiu'  mischief." 

"  Frubalily  Ihey  are  already  digging  out  of 
the  cellar. 

"It  will  take  'em  half  an  hour  ter  do  it. 
Miss  Vida." 

"And  when  they  get  out  we  have  our 
weapons  ready  foruse,"  added  Sam. 

"  De  Unioners ain't  in  sightyet,"  announc- 
ed Aunt  Molly,  as  she  trotted  back  from  the 
door. 

Captain  Carrington  frowned. 

Enough  time  had  elapsed  to  bring  aid,  if 
all  had  gone  well,  and  he  began  to  fear  that 
the  negio  had  failed  in  his  mission,  or  els.' 
that  no  men  had  been  granted  to  answer  tin- 
i^all. 

At  that  moment,  however,  all  their  atten- 
tion was  drawn  to  the  bushwhackers. 

The  floor  at  the  further  end  of  the  hall 
began  to  creak  and  tremble  in  a  suggestive 
way. 

'  Ha !"  said  Sam,    '  is  that  their  game  ?" 


"  I  never  thort  of  that,"  muttered  'Ziah. 

"  We  must  think  of  it  now.  Come,  we  will 
add  your  weight  to  the  strength  of  the  at- 
tached  point,  and  try  to  prevent  a  breach." 

They  did  as  he  said ;  though,  as  the  boards 
cracked  and  trembled  under  their  feet, 
they  did  not  yield  to  any  great  extent,  and 
the  attempt  was  finally  abandoned. 

Silence  once  more  reigned  in  the  cellar. 

Several  minutes  passed,  but  Sam  and  'Ziah 
were,  continually  on  the  alert. 

They  moved  around  from  window  to  win- 
dow, expecting  every  moment  to  see  an 
opening  made  under  the  foundation  of  the 
mansion;  but  ten  minutes  wore  on  without 
giving  them  any  clew  to  the  movements  of 
the  biishwhacke  s. 

Really,  the  latter  had  more  to  work  against 
than  was  suspected. 

^The  mansion  had  been  well  built,  the  iloor 
was  firm,  and  the  rocks  which  composed  the 
sides  of  the  cellar  were  held  together  by 
cement,  which  was  not  easily  moved. 

All  these  things  they  had  found  to  baffle 
them  ;  but  they  had  gained  an  idea  not 
thought  of  by  the  Union  men  above. 

When  their  unreasoning  fury  had  exhaust- 
ed itself  they  set  about  the  work  of  escape 
systematically.  In  their  belts  were  keen, 
strong  knives,  and  with  these  they  proposed 
to  carve  their  way  to  victory. 

The  barrels  and  boxes  were  brought  into 
use  to  elevate  them  near  the  floor,  and  then, 
in  half  a  dozen  different  places,  they  began 
the  work  of  cutting  through.  Keen  as  their 
knives  were,  this  was  not  easy,  for  the  boards 
were  old  and  well-seasoned ;  but  they  worked 
diligently,  and  gained  little  by  little. 

This  explains  why  they  were  so  silent,  and 
proves  that  'Ziah's  assertion  that  silence  is 
often  more  to  be  dreaded  than  a  good  deal 
of  noise. 

At  last,  one  of  the  cutlers  went  through 
the  first  layer  of  boards,  and  a  murmur 
arose  from  the  men  as  they  cast  down  a  sec- 
tion three  feet  long  and  a  foot  wide.  In  the 
course  .it  time,  this  liegiiiiiiiig  could  be  con- 
tinue.l  so  that  lli.y  i-ouM  i  lawl  through. 

Meaiiwhil.-,  matt.rs  suil.l.aily  assumed  an 


Ca 


Dir.'.ti;.  in  Ir.nt  of  the  piazza,  two  score  of 
Conle.l.aat.' I  avaliy  were  gathered  in  line, 
their  gray  uniforms  presenting  a  most  un- 
welcome'appeaniuee,  and  nearer  yet  was  an 
ofBcer  in  gray. 

This  man  had  just  been  on  the  point  of 
knocking  at  the  door,  when  it  was  abruptly 
opened  by  Sam,  and  the  two  stood  face  to 
face,  so  near  that  they  could  have  shaken 
hands. 

Of  the  two,  the  Confederate  was  the  least 
surprised. 

He  had  drawn  his  revolver  before  advanc- 
ing to  the  door,  and  only  one  movement  was 
required  to  bring  it  to  the  level  of  Sam''^ 
breast,  while  at  the  same  time  he  sternly 
said: 

"  One  movement  and  you  die !  Yield  your- 
self as  my  prisoner." 

It  was  a  painful  and  humiliating  situation, 
but  the  man  who  kicks  afraiiist  a  loaded  re- 
volver under  such  ciri.-innstan.i's  is  mad. 

Carrington  saw  all  of  his  h.. pis  ^.>  to  ruin 
together;  but  as  the  battl.'  within  111.'  house 
seemed  sure  to  go  against  iiisfiieiids  anyway 
now,  he  dashed  aside  all  dignity,  and  curtly 
said: 

"Surrender  it  is.  Drive  on  your  ambu- 
lance!" 

Two  or  three  men  had  advanced  without 
orders  at  sight  of  the  Union  captain,  and  to 
them  the  Confederate  consigned  his  prisoner. 
The  other  officer  looked  keenly  inside  the 
house;  fiut  finally  walked  back  to  where  Sam 


The 


made 


impatii 


"  Act  sensibly,  and  you  will  lose  nothing 
by  it,"  he  said,  speaking  more  moderately 
than  could  be  expected.  "There  are,  of 
course,  more  Unionists.    How  many?" 

Before  Sam  could  answer,  a  cry  arose  from 
one  of  the  men  in  the  rear,  and  all  looked 


inrt. 

at  fioii 


wood  a  hun- 
x  at  a  hard  gai- 
ns.', and  a  wild- 


liiniself  out- 
ap  took  him 
f   i-oininand 


was  uttered,  the  boys  in  gray  gave  a  shout, 
which  was  answered  from  the  blues,  and 
away  went  the  smaller  force  with  Captain 
Carrington  in  their  midst. 

They  were  not  pursued.  The  commander 
of  the  rescue  party  knew  the  Confederates 
had  just  aiTived  there,  and,  as  he  saw  noth- 
ing of  Sam,  he  concluded  to  let  them  alone 
and  devote  his  attention  to  the  work  on 
which  he  had  been  dispatched. 

Meanwhile,  Sam  Carrington  was  taken  on 
a  rough  ride  of  some  fifteen  miles.  He  knew 
the  road  well  and  was  aware  that  he  was  be- 
ing taken  directly  to  General  Early's  camp, 
but  he  asked  no  questions.  Of  all  the  mis- 
haps of  his  life  that  was  the  most  cutting. 
To  be  captured  at  such  a  time  was  indeed 
mortifying,  and  it  was  no  wonder  he  relapsed 
into  sileiiie  and  would  answer  no  questions. 

It  was   af>.a    dark   when    the  Confederate 


aft( 


Karly's  tent.  It 
was  iiid  tti.'  lir.st  time  the  captain  had  seen 
the  square,  bearded  face,  but  he  was  not  so 
well  known  to  soldiers  as  the  general,  and 
no  one  recognized  him  until  his  name  was 
pronounced. 

He  did  not  hesitate  to  give  it.  He  had  no 
intention  of  sulking  any  further,  and  ea.h 
and  every  iiiiestioii  asked  bv  Karly  was 
promptly  answered.  He  toi.I  his  "name, 
whereupon  tliere  was  a  little  stir  among  the 
subordinate  officers,  who  knew  him  as  "  Cav- 
alry Sam"  to  their  sorrow;  and  he  told, 
too,  rf  his  visit  to  the  Warburton  house,  of 
the  arrival  of  Shelley's  bushwhackers  and 
their  lawless  course. 

At  this  point,  Earlv  frowned. 

"This  fellow  must  be  given  a  lesson,"  he 
sternly  said,  "and  a  severe  one  at  that. 
This  is  not  his  first  offense,  and  I  will  show 
him  that  I  do  not  give  protection  papers  to 
have  them  defied  by  such  a  rascal  as  he." 

The  prisoner  finished  his  story,  and  then 
Early  added : 

"  Well,  sir,  I  sincerely  hope  vour  friends 
have  by  this  time  caged  the  whole  lot  of 
Shelley's  men  where  they  cannot  escape ; 
but  my  present  business  is  with  you.  My 
scouts  tell  me  that  tne  Northern  army  has 
encamped  on  the  eastern  side  of  Cedar 
Creek." 

"  Pardon  me,  general,"  was  the  respectful 
answer,  "  but  I  cannot  give  any  information 
in  re.saril  to  General  Sheridan's  army." 

n..t  Id'  irni.ortaiH'^.  Yoii  wiIl,"of  <  "urs'e,'  be 
retain. '.i  as  a  prisoner,  hut  it  is  likelv  an  e.x- 
.liaiif,'.- will  .so,.ii  be  eflTeetcd.  Oiieso  noted 
as 'Cavalry  S^arn '  ought  to  bring  a  good 
price,"  the  general  added,  with  a  faint 
smile. 

At  that  moment,  an  officer  who  had  at 
first  been  in  the  rear  of  the  tent,  pushed  for- 
ward and  stood  near  Early,  He  was  a  man- 
ly, handsome  fellow,  and,  though  still 
young,  wore  the  uniform  of  a  Confederate 
colonel. 

Carrington  saw  him  and  started. 

".Mfr.'.l  I'.-ni.  i.-k?"  he  could  not  avoid  e.x- 
clainiiii^. 

Kv.ry  ^'azi-  was  fixed  upon  the  colonel, 
wli.>  first  li..we.l  and  then  looked  at  (ieiieral 
Early. 

"Do  you  know  the  prisoner?"  the  latter 
asked. 

"  He  was  once  my  schoolmate,  general." 
Penrock  answered,   his   voice  husky  from 


crossed   the  face  of  his 


superior 


years,  yon  meet  thus  strangely.  Here  is  a 
chance  for  m<.ralizins,  were  that  a  soldier's 
business,  Init  it  is  n.it." 

He  hesitated  for  a  moment  and  then  or- 
dered the  iirisoner  removed.  This  done  he 
beckoned  to  Penrock. 

"  Perhaps  you   would  like  to  have  an  in- 
terview   with    this    old    acquaintanoe,"   he 
said. 
"  I  would,  indeed,  general." 
"  Go,  then,  and  talk  with  him." 
Thus  it  was  that,  a  few  minutes  later,  Al- 
fred came  to  the  prison  tent  of  his  child- 
hood s  friend  and  they  met  again  after  long 
years— years  made  doul>ly   long  by  war  and 
trouble. 

rim  guard  paced 

him.    Their   hands 


met  in  an  earnest  clasp. 
"Sam  !" 
"  Alfred !" 
The  same  names  tlu'v 


in  the  old 
made  no 
>ngh  they 


:n  WAR  LIBRARY. 


21 


but  it  was  a  meeting  such  as  few  men  liave. 
No  bitterness  hovered  over  it,  only  eaoli  l)c- 
liered  himself  iu  the  right,  ami  Peuroek 
was  full  of  sorrow  that  Uarriugton  should 
have  fought  uuder  the  Northeru  llag  only 
to  be,  that  evening,  a  fast  prisoner. 

Their  conversation  was  long  and  earnest, 
and  through  it  all  neither  spoke  a  bitterer 
reproving  word;  neither  tried  to  show  that 
he  was  right  and  his  companion  wroug.  The 
die  had  been  east  three  years  before ;  one  was 
fated  to  light  in  blue  and  the  other  in  gray, 
but  that  had  not  destroyed  their  friendship, 
and  never  would. 

Of  the  state  of  the  war  they  talked  freely, 
though  without  undue  conflcfence,  aud  Peu- 
roik  freely  admitted  that  the  end  would 
piobably  come soou  iu  the  Shenandoah  Val- 
ley at  least. 

They  parted,  at  last,  with  a  warm  clasping 
of  hands,  aud  Colonel  Peurock  went  away  to 
seek  Early.  Modestly,  but  earnestly,  he  re- 
quested that  if  auy  e.xchauge  of  prisoners 
was  made,  the  ease  of  Captain  Carriugtou 
would  be  favorably  considered,  and  the  Con- 
federate general  Usteuod  patiently  and  said 
he  would  consider  the  request. 

Cavalry  Sam  was  left  alone  iu  his  prison 
tent.  He  had  much  of  which  to  think,  and 
his  mind  was  not  altogether  easy  iu  regard 
to  the  Misses  Warburtou,  but  he  trusted  that 
all  was  well  there,  and  there  did  not  seem  to 
be  any  reason  why  the  rescue  party  brought 
by  Edmund  should  not  have  completely  ab- 
sorbed Shelley  and  his  band. 

As  for  himself,  Sam  was  a  prisoner  for  the 
first  time  in  his  army  experience ;  but  his 
buoyant  disposition  stood  him  in  good  use, 
and  he  had  faith  to  believe  that  all  would  be 
well. 

At  any  rate  his  was  the  fortune  of  a  sol- 
dier's life. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

AT   MIDNIGHT. 

The  hours  wore  on. 

All  had  t>eoome  quiet  in  the  vicinity  of 
Cavalry  Sam's  prison  tent,  and,  despite  his 
unpleasant  situation,  he  began  to  feel 
sleepy. 

He  had  the  place  all  to  himself,  and,  so  far 
as  hearing  went,  be  would  not  have  known 
that  any  human  being  was  within  miles  of 
him  except  the  guard  who  paced  steadily  in 
front  of  the  tent. 

"I  think  I'll  get  a  sound  night's  rest,  de- 
spite the  fact  that  I  am  in  durance  vile,"  he 
said,  with  a  yawn. 

Then  he  lay  down,  wormed  into  a  com- 
fortable position,  and  all  looked  favorable 
lor  speedy  slumber. 

Scarcely  two  minutes  had  passed  when 
he  became  conscious  that  the  wind  was  blow- 
ing freely  from  the  quarter  where  lay  his 
feet,  and  aa  he  had  noticed  before  the  light 
was  taken  from  him  that  the  tent  was  very 
snug  and  close,  the  fact  surprised  him  some- 
what. 

A  closer  notice  revealed  the  fact  that  the 
wind  was  entering  as  it  will  where  an  open- 
■  ■    ■  a  tent. 


ing  exists  to  any  extent  in  the  side  of  a  i 
'■     partially  ,,     .     ,. 

locality. 


and  he  partially  arose  and  looked  toward  the 
ly  loa  "' 
He  had  barely  gai 


however,  when  a  slight  hiss  sounded  almost 
at  his  feet. 

Very  slight,  indeed,  was  the  sound,  but  his 
attentive  bearing  caught  _it,  and  he  grew 
excited. 

Some  one  was  secretly  entering  the  tent,  if 
the  signs  went  for  anything,  and  that  one 
might  be  a  friend. 

"Massa  Sam!" 

It  was  a  very  soft  whisper,  but  the  prison- 
er distinguished  the  two  words  and  more. 
The  whisper,  the  mode  of  address— all  re- 
minded of  Edmund  Smith. 

He  drew  up  his  feet  quickly,  but  dared  not 
speak. 

"  Am  you  dar,  Massa  Sam  ?" 

"  Yes,  yes,"  he  whispered  in  return. 

"Alone?" 

"  Yee." 

Then  into  the  tent  wriggled  a  dark  figure, 
not  an  injudicious  sound  betraying  its  move- 
ments, and  Sam  almost  wondered  if  it  was  a 
ghost,  until  it  crept  to  his  side  and  seized  his 
hands. 

Miraculous  though  the  coming  might  be, 
Edmund  was  beside  him,  and  the  colored 
boy  caressed  his  hands  again  and  again, 
while  Sam  sat  bewildered. 

How  the  boy  came  to  be  iu  the  Confeder- 
ate camp  he  could  not  understand.  Such 
things  were  occasionally  done  by  spies,  but 
Edmund 

"  Brees  de  Lord,  I'se  done  found  you,"  the 
intruder  said. 

"Hewintba  world  did 
ArayoaapiiMBi 


i   Tou   gel 


here?' 


you,  massa  cap'n,  you  don't  s'pose  I  would 
let  you  stay  wid  dese  truck,  do  you  ?  No,  sah. 
I  tole  Missvidail  would  get  you  free,  an'  I'se 
goin'  ter  do  it." 

"How  did  you  pass  the  pickets?" 

"  Crawled  past  dem ;  crawled  on  my  stom- 
jaek.    We  go  back  de  same  way." 

"Can  it  be  done?"  Sam  demanded,  with 
more  animation. 

"  Golly  I  yes,  sah,  jest  as  easy.  All  you  got 
ter  do  is  ter  toiler  me.  I'll  take  you  fru 
Massa  Sam." 

Furtlier  conversation  made  inattcis  clear- 
er, Edmund,  on  learning  that  Ciirriugton 
was  a  prisoner,  had  promptly  Vol  lowed  the 
Confederates,  aud  approached  their  camp 
close  behind  them. 

He  gave  no  particulars  as  to  how  he  had 
passed  the  guards,  except  to  say  that,  lack- 
ing the  countersign,  he  had  crawled  past  the 
various  pickets.  In  this  his  knowledge  of 
the  ground  had  aided  him  greatly,  but  Sam 
still  wondered. 

"Now,  Massa  Cap'u,  you  hurry  up,  an'  we 
will  go  back  de  same  way  1  come,"  he 
added. 

"I  don't  believe  I  can  do  it,  but,  by  my 
life,  I'll  try,"  Carringtou  said.  "Let  us  go 
at  once.  The  guard  may  at  any  moment 
look  in  and  find  you." 

The  venture  was  promptly  commenced. 
Edmund  bad  cut  a  hole  through  the  side  of 
the  tent,  and  they  easily  passed  out.  Then 
the  real  work  begun,  and  for  half  a  mile 
they  must  creep,  where  an  enemy  was  Uable 
at  any  moment  to  arise  and  give  the  alarm, 
while  pickets  must  be  passed— how,  Sam  did 
not  know. 

He  felt  perfectly  helpless,  and  resigned  the 
lead  to  Edmund  very  willingly. 

The  latter  seemed  equal  to  the  emergency. 
At  the  very  first  he  dropped  on  the  ground, 
his  unrelieved  blackness  making  him  seem 
like  a  rock  or  log,  and  with  Sam  at  his  heels 
the  start  was  made. 

The  gallant  captain  must  not  be  looked 
upon  as  an  awkward  bungler.    HLs  early  e.x- 

Eerience  with  'Ziah  Strout  in  the  swamp 
ad  taught  him  how  to  crawl  silently  and 
skilfully,  and  he  was  only  at  fault  to  under- 
stand how  they  were  to  escape  the  notice  of 
the  pickets. 

For  some  distance  their  way  lay  along  the 

side  of  a  ridge,  where  rocks  and  bushes  gave 

them  cover  and  made  the  pitching  of  tents 

possible,  and  though  the    canvas  tops  and 


They  had  done  well  among  those  whose 
business  it  was  to  sleep;  now  for  those  who 
were  allotted  to  keep  awake. 

Between  the  rougher  part  of  the  ridge  and 
the  wood,  lay  a  tolerably  smooth  space,  and 
all  the  way  across  this  could  be  seen  the 
forms  of  the  recumbent  soldiers. 

Carrington  paused  iu  real  apprehension. 

"Heavens!  he  said,  "we  can  never  pass 
them  unseen." 

"  Stand  straight  an' walk  fru'  dem,"  said 
Edmund. 

"  We  shall  be  seen  and  stopped." 

"  Dey  am  too  tired  to  car'  who  is  walkin' 
ober  dem.  Dey  are  dar  to  sleep.  Nobody 
looked  at  me  when  I  came  an'I  reckon,  dey 
won't  look  when  we  go  back." 

A  brief  survey  convinced  Sam  that  there 
was  no  other  way. 

Either  he  must  remain  in  the  camp,  or 
make  the  venture,  and  he  was  not  a  man  to 
leave  a  chance  untried. 

"  Lead  on !"  he  firmly  said. 

They  advanced  boldly,  stepping  between, 
aud  often  over  the  sleeping  Confederates. 
It  was  a  moment  of  thrilling  suspense. 
Every  moment  they  expected  some  one  to 
rise  up  and  confront  them,  and  then,  de- 
spite the  darkness,  Sam's  uniform  would  be- 
tray all. 

Luckily,  no  one  stirred,  and  as  they  step- 
ped over  the  men  they  took  care  not  to  brush 
agalHst  them. 

The  deeper  shadow  of  the  trees  was  reach- 
ed and  eutered. 

They  were  at  last  beyond  the  camp  proper, 
and  only  the  pickets  remained  to  be  passed. 

Only  the  pickets!  There  was  a  world  of 
meamng  in  the  simple  trio  of  words. 

No  longer  a  sleeping  but  a  watchful  en- 
emy was  to  be  encountered,  and  their  only 
way  was  to  ci'awl  past  the  posts. 

Edmund  seemed  utterly  regardless  of  dan- 
ger, but  his  movements  were  as  soft  and 
sagacious  as  though  he  was  some  old  fol- 
lower! of  Powhattan  come  back  to  lulflll  a 
mission,  aud  Sam  was  not  less  skillful. 

"Crawl  Uke  a  snake,  Maasa  Sam,"  the 
negro   said,    aud   then  they  went   forward 


Through  and  under  the  bushes,  as  uoise- 
leasly  as  possible,  but  with  the  odds  against 
them. 

It  was  uo  pine  wood  where  one  could  walk 
freely  and  make  no  sound,  but  dry  sticks 
lay  numerously  under  their  feet. 

Several  rods  were  successfully  passed,  and 
then  Edmund  turned  and  touched  Carriug- ; 
ton's  arm,  at  the  same  time  pointing  ahead. . 
No  words  were  needed. 

Sara  saw  a  sentinel  pacing  his  beat,  and; 
knew  the  critical  moment  was  at  hand.  , 

"  Come,"  said  the  black  guide. 

Inch  by  inch  they  crawled  on,  steadily. 
Hearing  the  picket's  line  of  travel,  and  then," 
when  his  back  was  turaed,  crept  almost  to  . 
where  he  had  just  been,  and  lay  fiat  and 
silent. 

The  Confederate  walked  slowly  back.  He 
was  a  bold,  manly  looking  soldier,  of  large 
frame,  a  bad  euemy  to  meet,  if  appcarauces 
went  for  anything,  and  Sam  almost  c.\pected 
his  keen  eyes  would  pierce  the  cover  of  the 
thicket  aud  end  in  their  ruin. 

He  passed  so  near  that  they  could  have 
touched  him,  reached  the  limit  of  his  beat, 
wheeled  and  went  back  as  before. 

Almost  opposite  their  ambush  he  suddenly 
paused,  and  the  click  of  his  rifle-lock  sound- 
ed with  startling  clearness. 

For  a  moment  Sam  had  no  doubt  but  that 
they  were  seen,  and  a  fierce  light  shone  in 
his  eyes  as  he  heard  the  old  familiar  chal- 
lenge : 

"Halt!    Who  comes  there  ?" 

But  a  voice  answered  from  beyond  the 
line: 

"  A  friend,  with  the  countersign." 

Carrington  experienced  a  revulsion  of 
feeling,  and  the  guard  continued  in  his  busi- 
ness-like way : 

"  Advance,  friend,  with  the  countersign." 

The  previous  speaker  came  forward,  whis- 
pered the  magic  word  over  the  presented 
bayonet,  and  then  passed  on  to  the  interior 
of  the  camp,  while  the  grim  picket  went  his 
way. 

He  was  a  wide-awake  guard,  but  he  did 
not  see  the  two  forms  that  flitted  across  his 
beat,  instantly  dropping  into  the  bushes, 
nor  did  he  afterward  see  them  hurrying 
cautiously  away. 

They  had  passed  the  last  danger,  how- 
ever, and  when  half  a  mile  away  Edmund 
slowly  turned. 

"Igotyouuns  inter  trouble,  Massa  Sam, 
by  hitchin'  outer  Jake  Shelley  when  I  did. 
Have  I  made  amends  fur  dat  ?" 

"Nobly,  Edmund,  nobly!"  declared  the 
cttptain,  and  with  the  dusky  band  within 
his  own  he  added  his  earnest  thanks. 

Then  they  went  on  to  the  Union  camp, 
Edmund  telling  as  they  went  what  had  oc- 
curred at  Warburton's  after  Sam  left. 

All  the  bushwhackers  had  been  caged  and 
taken  to  the  camp  of  the  boys  in  blue — all 
except  Shelley.  He,  having  been  left  by 
Sam  and  'Ziah,  as  before  stated,  had  managed 
to  get  clear  of  his  bonds  and  make  good  his 
escape. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

CEDAR  CREEK. 

Cavalry  Sam  and  Edmund  reached  Sheri- 
dan's camp  without  further  adventure,  and 
the  first  man  to  peet  them  was  'Ziah  Strout. 


Taken  all  iu  all,  the  day's  work  had  l>een 
a  good  one,  for  the  capture  of  the  bush- 
whackers had  left  Jake  Shelley  without  s 
man  at  his  back.  His  own  escape  was 
deeply  regretted,  but  time  might  yet  bring 
him  to  justice. 


iu  store  for  them, 

Another  crisis  was  approaching  iu  the 
Shenandoah  Valley. 

That  day,  General  Sheridan  left  the  army 
under  the  temporary  command  of  Wright, 
the  gallant  commander  of  the  Sixth  Corpa, 
aud  went  to  Washington  on  business  of  Im- 
portance- 
No  one  had  a  thought  that  trouble  would 
occur  during  his  absence.  The  Confeder- 
ates were  believed  to  be  too  thoroughly  de- 
moralized to  risk  an  attack,  and  the  position 
of  the  Union  army  was  very  strong. 

They  were  on  the  east  side  of  Cedar  Creek, 
with  Crook's  corps  in  advance,  Emoryg  a 
little  behind,  and  Wright's — then  in  charge 
of  Kicketts— to  the  right  and  rear  of  Emory. 
The  cavalry  of  Torbert,  Custer  and  Merritt 
had  favorable  positions,   and  ATerill's  gal- 


22 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


lant  comuiaud  guarded  the  north  fork  of 
theSheiiandoah,  from  Cedar  Creek  to  Front 
Royal. 

It  was  a  position  which  only  a  lirave  or 
reckless  mail  would  dare  to  attack;  for,  by 
its  disposal  of  streams  and  hills,  nature  had 
done  as  much  as  man  to   make  it  a  strong 

';  one. 

f     But   Jubal    Early'.'i    spirit     was    not    yet 

; broken. 

'  He  had  suffered  severe  losses  and  reverses, 
but  he  determined  to  strike  another  blow; 
and  his  brave  followers  were  not  in  the  least 
leluctant. 

His  army  had  recently  been  strengthened 
by  reinforcements  from  General  Lee's  iirmyj 
which  then  lay  before  Petersburg,  and  all 
were  anxious  to  retrieve  their  waning  for- 
uines. 

The  advance  was  made  shortly  after  mid- 
night, on  the  nineteenth  of  October,  with 
I'egi-am,  Gordon  and  Ramseur  on  his  right, 
iiiid  Ker=liaiv  rind  Wharton  at  the  left,  and 
with  Mil  iii>ssiMc  secrecy  they  crept  toward 
the  iiii.su^lM.  tin:;  riiionists. 

To  u^.■  III'  liiLiliways  would  be  to  invite 
speedy  c!i^.•o■, n  \ ,  >..  llic  roughest  iiud  dark- 
<-.st  paths  Avi-ic  usril,  and  lioisis  Inot  and  ar- 
tillery   inuvcd     alMU-      v.ii.u-     our      «(,uld 

Particularly  iuli-Ii  u  as  tin-  u  a'\  in.d  by 
the  right.  It  moved  along  tljc  liuc  of  the 
Manassas  Gap  railway  until  the  abrupt  bend 
(pf  the  Shenandoah  was  reached,  and  then 
1  he  stream  was  forded  successfully,  and  men, 
horses  and  guns  moved  on  resolutely. 

Not  much  further  was  the  railroad  fol- 
lowed; but,  beariii!!  ti>  th.-  uortli,  they  again 
approached  tlic-  tdrliaais  liver.  This  time 
it  was  apprnacli.'d  at  a  point  cast  of  Cedar 
Creek,  ami  ancthci'cios--iii^-  must  be  made. 

Colonel  Pcuii'cli  «as  u  ith  tliis  wing,  aud 
as  he  saw  the  rolliug  water  before  them  he 
lealized  that  the  critkal  moment  was  at 
hand.  A  Uttle  turtlier  on  they  would  en- 
counter Crook's  corps,  and  then  woukl 
come  the  tug  of  war. 

If  this  movement  failed,  the  valley  would 
be  left  practically  defenseless.  One  moie 
defeat  would  break  the  spirit  of  Early's 
command— if,  indeed,  they  were  notcrushed 
—and  me  fate  of  Virginia  seemed  poised  on 
a  uariicv  point. 

Agiiai  lue  river  was  forded,  and  only  dry 
land  was  l)etween  the  rival  aimies.  The 
Confederates  went  on  steadily.  .Kll  possible 
caut 


lot  nio\ 
tUeir  many  fret 
even  i-cachcil  ili 
tioil  was  -aincd 
iUid,  lIlcLi-  aio\ 
which  arcs."  !)ci 
gained  such  pos 
Ju.st,  :is  day  ^v: 
receiied  the  or' 


then  all 


ale 


;  the  liL 


of  tbeir  muskets,  and,  witli  loud  shouts, 
they  dashed  forward  for  a  closer  attack. 

The  Unionists  awoke  tioiii  sluiubcrin  con- 
fusion. They  grasped  llnu-  wca|M>ns  and 
started  for  the  trenches,  but  the  Confeder- 
ates were  already  there.  Thc\-  had  gaincil 
the  first  step,  and  they  meant  to  liaM-  iuotc 
Still  shouting,  they  pressed  on  in  a  gallant 
assault,  and  the  bewildered  and  rudely 
awakened  boys  in  blue  could  offer  but  little 
of  the  spirited  resistance  they  should  have 
received. 

Under  this  unexpected  and  furious  attack. 
Crook's  corps  soon  went  to  pieces.  The  men 
were  confused  and  dismayed,  and  not  all  the 
orders  of  the  equally  confused  officers  could 
keep  them  intact.  In  utter  disregard  of 
order  they  went  back  in  rapid  retreat,  leav- 
ing seven  hundred  of  their  number  and  nu- 
merous guns  liehind. 

The  assailants  were  delighted,  and  General 
Ramseur  wruug  the  hand  of  Alfred  Penrock 
as  he  complimented  him  on  the  way  he  had 
led  his  men. 

"At  last  the  tide  has  tiu-ned.  We  are 
going  to  pay  off  all  of  our  old  debts!"  he 
confidentially  said. 

It  was  the  belief  of  all  Early's  army.  They 
pressed  on  with  enthusiasm,  and  striicic 
Emory's  corps  which,  it  will  be  ivnicnibci  cd, 
lay  be'hind  Crook's.  Emory  tried  m  \  am  I  o 
stay  the,  tide  of  battle.  Hethivii  loiwanl 
McMilleu's  brigade  as  a  temporaiy  check. 
but  it  was  like  a  man  trying  to  stop  the  cur- 
rent of  Niagara.  With  one  thu'd  its  uumlier 
■  di'ad,  wounded  or  prisoners,  the  brigade  was 
hurled  back  on  the  main  force. 

Then  Emory,  too,  was  obliged  to  give 
ground,  and  the  guns  thus  lost  were  turned 
on  their  fomiei'  possessors  with  dreadful  ef- 
fect. 

At  this  point,  Early's  right,  led  by  Gordon, 
made   itself  particularly   obnoxious  to  the 


Unionists.  They  moved  with  an  impetuos- 
ity which  could  not  be  resisted,  and  if  a 
stand  was  taken  it  was  made  useless  by  Gor- 
don's unceasing  attention. 

While  the  Union  left  was  being  thus 
severely  handled,  the  right  was  faring  badly 
at  the  hands  of  Kershaw  and  Wharton,  and 
Geueral  Wright,  who,  itwill  be  remembered, 
was  acting  in  Sheridan's  place,  felt  com- 
pelled to  order  a  general  retieat. 

Most  fortunately  for  the  fugitives,  the 
Six^th  corps  was  still  in  good  condition,  and 
while  the  others  went  on  with  utter  disre- 
gard (.f  order,  these  grim  veterans  covered 
the  retreat  in  an  admirable  order.  Onlyfor 
that,  il  is  possiblcihattheentireai-my  would 
have  bi'cn  captnied. 

^AIonu;ttn'  Winchester  road  they  wt 
til  Middlctown  was  reached,  anil    th« 
broken  columns  were  reformed.    'I'l 
were  fast  regaining  their 
■     '  "•  ight    •   •    ■      -      " 
yet  in  condi 
he  fell  back  two  miles  further. 

Early  entered  Middlctown.  Had  his  men 
then  been  in  condition  to  follow  up  their 
successes  there  is  no  knowing  when;  it  would 
have  ended,  but  Ihcv  had  had  si.Ktecu  hours 


.t!  been 
ell  if  he 
^ssed  on 


of  severe  work,  (i 
nons  over  the  hil 
tng  Shenandoah, 
Consequeiith  , 
to  eat,  drink  and 

.IubalKail"s\'vl'i 
had  disrepi I  dcd 
after  the  flceinu  i 
General  Wnul 
formed  that  bi^  e 
already  halteil  h 
spell  gave  him  a  < 


This  was  speedily  done,  and,  at  ten  o'clock, 
oTcUr  had  been  formed  out  of  chaos.  Despite 
their  lieavy  losses,  the  Unionists  were  still 
full  of  courage,  and  their  set  faces  told  that 
they  were  not  yet  disposed  to  give  up  the 
battle. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

KETKIBUTION. 

Sam  C'arrington  had  not  been  inactive 
during  the  assault  and  flight.  He  had  felt 
a  natural  chagrin  at  his  capture  by  the  Con- 
federates a  little  liefore,  and,  anxious  to  re- 


i>rc  them. 

\Vhcn  the  liist  attack  was  made,  he  had 
been  in  Ills  i.osition  among  the  cavalry,  but 
ill  the  coninsion  which  followed  few  men 
Ml.  ci-edcd  in  ke.  ping  where  they  belonged, 
and  \>  hell  General  Gordon  made  his  fierce 
assault  on  the  Uuiou  left.  Cavalry  Sam  was 
among  those  who  were  there  to  receive  it. 

He  saiv  as  well  as  any  that  desperate  en- 
deavors were  required  to  turn  the  tide,  or 
the  day  was  lost,  aud  with  all  of  his  impetu- 
ositv  he  endeavored  to  sustain  the  wavering 
conia.ire  of  the  hard-pressed  Unionists. 

Twice  liis  horse  was  shot  under  him,  but 
he  esinpi'd  iii.iury  and  was  always  to  be 
loiind  tacni;^  the  enemy. 

At  one  time,  Ziah  was  fighting  by  his 
side,  but  they  became  separated  and  saw 
each  other  no  more  tor  some  hours. 

When  the  army  halted  beyond  Middle- 
town,  the  scout  went  among  the  cavalry 
and  looked  for  Sam.  He  was  not  to  be 
found,  and  no  one  had  seen  him  since  the  re- 
treat fairly  began. 

'Ziah  grew  trouliled  at  the  news.  Full 
well  he  knew  the  vouug  captain,  and,  being 
sure  thathewouhi  never  be  found  negli- 
gent in  liis  duty,  there  could  be  no  doubt 
but  that  he  had  met  with  some  mishap;  it 
seemed  as  though  he  must  be  dead  or  cap- 
tured. 

Convinced  that  no  more  was  to  be  learned 
by  inquiry,  'Ziah  shouldered  his  riUe  and 
strode  Iroin  camp.  He  was  a  free  man  in 
thelullc,  I  scii^c  of  the  word,  and  he  was 
goi:i.:i  lo  loolv  lor  Cavalry  Sam. 

At  Uc  linii' w  hen  Emory's  corps  was  dis- 
turbed by  the  flight  into  their  faces  of 
1  I  o.ik  s  broken  columns,  and  then,  in  turn, 
lie  a\  ily  ^tricken  by  the  Confederate  veter- 
ans. Sam  was  in  good  condition  and  gallants 
ly  rilling  the  third  horse  he  had  that  day  be- 
strode. 

Whem  Emory  pushed  forward  McMillen's 
brigade,  Sam  joined  them  because  he  saw 
no  better  place  to  go.  In  that  terrible  vor- 
tex of  battle,  few  men  of  the  demoralized 
first  line  thought  of  finding  their  own  com- 
mands, for  all  were  ini.xcd  to-,  ill.  r. 

McMillen  went  foi-war.l  ;:a.l,iutly  imd  it 
wasuot  his  fault  that  lie  tailed  lo  hold  the 
enemy  in  check.    They  were  too  strong  for 


'  him,  and,  broken  and  decimated,  his  brigade 
was  hurled  back  to  join  in  the  contusion 
that  seized  on  all  Emory's  corps. 

The  captured  guns  were  turned  upon  them 
with  terrible  effect,  and  then  it  was  that 
Captain  Carrington's  third  horse  was  killed 
beneath  him. 

He  fell  close  to  a  thicket,  luckily  managing 
to  free  himself  from  the  stirrups,  but  when 
he  would  have  arisen  a  regiment  of  Confed- 
erates charged  across  the  ground.  One 
glance  showed  Sam  that  they  would  meet 
with  no  more  opposition  there,  and  with  a 
quick  movement  he  gained  the  cover  of  the 
thicket. 

A  minute  more  and  the  boys  in  gi'ay  were 
all  around  him.  Their  triumphant  cheers 
I  rang  out  clear  and  loud,  and  the  cavalry- 
man iiia.Ic  up  his  mind  to  surrender  quiatly 

lie  was  11. d  ^ceIl  just  then.  The  regiment 
Willi  on,  and  the  ground  was  left  to  the 
ilead  and  dyiug.  Sam  peered  from  the 
thicket,  thinking  of  flight,  but  oue  glauoe 
was  enough  to  convince  him  that  it  could 
not  then  be  successfully  accomplished. 

He  lay  Hat  in  the  thicket  and  waited. 

Scarcely  had  the  Confederates  guiie,  wheu 
a  riderless  horse  (la>li 
frequently  toward  tin 
he  had  come,  but  s.  en 

This  he  did  near  Sam  s  cover,  and  the  tat- 
ter's eyes  at  once  became  fixed  upon  him  in 
an  earnest  gaze. 

He  was  a  fine  animal;  aud,  though  it  might 
be  safer  to  creep  away,  the  captaiu  longed 
to  gain  his  saddle,  and  use  a  more  rapid 
means  of  locomotion. 

He  reflected,  and  resolved  to  run  the  riskr 
so  he  crept  from  his  cover,  and  appioached 
the  horse. 

He  was  easily  secured,  and  then  Sam 
mounted,  and  looked  about  for  a  ivay  of 
joining  the  Union  army. 

Early's  force  was  in  the  way,  so  he  headed 
almost  due  east,  and  resolved  to  gain  the  de- 
sired ground  by  a  wide  detour. 

At  first  he  rode  slowly,  for  he  was  liable  to 
run  upon  the  enemj'  at  any  moment;  but 
luck  favored  him,  and  he  soon  felt  safe  in 
putting  the  horse  to  a  gallop. 

Wright's  force  was  still  in  retreat,  and  Sam 
knew  not  where  they  would  stop ;  but  if  his 
animal  held  out,  he -was  resolved  to  ride 
around  everything,  and  rejoin  them  where 
he  could. 

In  this  way  he  neared  a  creek,  where  the 
ground  was  very  familiar,  and  beheaded  for 
a  well-known  ford,  and  pushed  on — to  meet 
with  another  adventure. 


;f,";;,rwi;i:^f 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

A   PRETTY  UTTLE  SCHEME. 

Sam  had  no  fear  that  he  would  find  any 
Confederates  about  the  ford;  but  he  easeil 
up  on  his  pace  as  he  neared  it,  and  used 
proper  caution. 


the  ford. 

All  was  clear  as  he  rode  down  and  across; 
but  just  as  the  further  bank  was  reached,  he 
saw  something  which  caused  him  to  abruptly 
take  to  cover. 

Several  horsemen  were  coming  toward  the 
ford,  and,  the  mere  fact  that  they  wore  no 
kind  of  uniform  being  suspicious  in  itself,  he 
quickly  jiulled  on  his  right  rein,  andsecured 
cover  in  a  thicket. 

The  fact  that  he  was  on  much  lower  ground 
than  the  strangers  had  saved  him  from  dis- 


covery. 

They  came  on  to  the  ford,  and  then  he 
started  at  seeing  the  man  at  their  head.  It 
was  Jake  Shelley,  and  the  men  behind  him 
were  so  sirailarin  general  appearance  that  it 
was  evident  he  had  quickly  rallied  more 
bushwhackers  about  him. 

Luckily,  they  were  only  eight  in  number, 
and  Sam  was  so  anxious  to  siptare  the  old 
aeioiint  with  Shelley,  that  he  was  tempted  to 
Ink.'  a  ^ll.it  at  him,  ami  then  try  theeffects  of 
a  chai  ;;e;  but  hehelil  back  the  rash  impulse. 

It  was  just  as  well  that  he  diil. 

The  bushwhackers  paused  at  the  water's 
edge,  to  allow  their  horses  to  drink,  and  he 
plainly  heard  their  words  as  they  talked  in 
an  earnest  way. 

"  I  reckon  the  fight  is  all  over,"  said  Shel- 
ley. "The  cannon  don't  boom  any  more, 
an'  Early  has  scored  a  decisive  victory,  ef 
I'm  any  jedge." 

"  It  IS  lucky  for  him  that  Sheridan  was 
away,"  said  another  man. 

"  But  how  will  et  be  when  Sheridan  gets 
back?"  inquired  a  third  speaker.  "Et 
won't  take  him  long  ter  ride  down  from 
Winchester,  an'  you  Know  hie  men  will  fol- 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


ler  whar  he  leads  ef  thev  know  et  means 
death." 

"I've  heen  thinkiu'  o'  that  very  thmg," 
said  Shelley,  "  au'  I  think  I  see  a  chance  fur 
us  ter  do  a  pretty  bit  o'  business  an',  inebbe, 
get  a  sound  reward.  O'  course  word  has 
long  since  l)en  sent  ter  Sheridan,  an'  he  is  on 
his  way  ter  the  scene  o'  battle.  Waal,  wliat 
•soit  o'  an  idee  would  it  be  fur  us  to  ambush 
him  a.s  he  comes  down  ?" 

"  Til  iiuibush    himV"    repeated  one  <if  the 

■Vis;  we  have  only  ter  lay  by  his  road 
an'  ^^itit,  un'  then  when  he  comes  ii  well  di- 
iVfti'il  shot  will  furever  eend  his  carcei-; 
an',  it  may  be,  save  Earlv  torn  uiinllu'i-  ilp- 
Jpiil." 

Tlie  bushwhackers  caufilit  i  lit-  idH.i,  uuil 
an  approving  murmui-  lan  tliroiigli  the 
crowd. 

They  were  ready  to  aid  the  cause  they  so 
ignobly  upheld  m  all  possible  ways,  and 
Shelley's  scheme  looked  remarkably  biill- 
iant. 

They  spoke  as  one  man  to  coincide  with 
him;  and  then,  their  horses  having  satisliea 
their  thirst,  they  rode  on  across  the  turd. 

Cavalry  Sam  was  left  alone,  but  a  good- 
sized  idea  had  heen  put  iu  his  head.  TheM' 
fellows  mean  liarm  to  gallant  PhilSberiflaii; 
and,  in  some  way,  thev  Tiinst  be  pii'veiited. 

"I  will  ride  to  headciuarters,  and    inloriu 


General  Wright,"  i 
Then  he  rode  fro 


ihis 


fromth.'  l.usli.',-,  up  thvpath 
from  the  ford;  aud,  sti  ikiii;;  ull  acT.i^s  thi- 
sparse  wood  to  the  north,  dasln'il  alotiL'  the 
coin-se  of  the  stream  at  full  sp.i-il. 

At  last  he  .iiidgcd  that  lii>  detour  had  been 
continued  a  sulbcieut  leu^th  of  time  to  take 
him  i)ast  the  Confederate  lines,  and  he  again 
crossed  the  creek,  and  hea^ied  in  a  coui-se 
which  he  judged  would  take  him  to  Middle- 
town. 

At  that  ijlace,  too.  he  believed  General 
Wright  would  effect  a  rally,  and  he  must  see 
him  its  soon  as  possible. 

He  made  a  pretty  correct  estimate :  but 
Wri-ht,  as  bet'tne  stated,  had  not  thoujjht 
hiiuM-lt  111  cuidili,,!!  to  n-ht  at  iliddlptuwii, 

Wiiiciiester  road  beyond' the  'to»"u,  while 
Early  had  paused  within  the  place  to  re- 
cover his  breath. 

Sam  had  advanced  dangerously  near  the 
village  without  suspecting  the  truth,  when, 
suddenly,  a  score  of  riders  in  Union  bine 
dashed  out  o  ;a  wood  iu  lutt  haste. 

He  pulled  up  his  horse  iu  some  surprise; 
but, a  little  later,  wlien  men  in  gray  began 
to  emerge  from  the  sameiover,  he  saw  that 
the  lirst  party  had  need  of  hjiste. 

They  were  outnumbered  and  hard  ]>ressed. 

Putting  the  spurs  to  his  horse,  he  dashed 
across  the  field,  and  a  shout  arose  from  the 
Unionists. 

They  had  promptly  recognized  him,  nor 
was  he  far  behind  them  in  that  respect. 
They  were  all  of  Averills  cavalry;  and,  best 
of  all  'Ziah  Strout  rode  at  their  head. 

No  wonder  they  cheered,  for  they  were 
without  au  officer  to  lead  them,  and  Cav- 
alry Sam  was  a  favorite  with  all. 

lie  quickly  joined  them,  said  a  few  words 
of  greeting,  and  then  settled  down  beside 
Ziah  to  get  all  possible  news,  even  while 
they  continued  at  the  rapid  pace  it  would 
not  do  to  break. 

The  scout  described  the  position  of  both 
armies;  and,  by  the  time  he  had  finished, 
they  were  w  ell  past  Middletown  and  abreast 
i:f  Wrifxh;'  .  cciiiiiiaud,  but  the  hot  chase  of 
thcCoD'edeiates  made  it  impossible  for  them 
to  turu  and  join  their  army  then ;  they  must 
goon  up  the  valley. 

'Ziah  also  briefly  told  how  he  had  goue 
out  in  search  of  Carrington ;  and,  meeting 
the  handful  of  cavalry  that  had  become 
separated  from  the  others  while  near  Cedar 
Creek,  had  been  forced  into  the  general 
flight. 

Sam  looked  back  at  the  pursuers  and  long- 
ed to  turn  at  bay,  but  they  were  out- 
numbered five  to  one,  and  it  would  not  do. 


ttuucd. 

Still,  it  nettled  him,  and  he  resolved  to 
try  an  experiment. 

.\  mile  ahead  lay  two  ridges  which  extend- 
ed north  and  south,  with  a  narrow  valley 
between,  and  into  this  valley  he  resolved  to 
ride. 

What  he  would  do  after  thnt  depended  on 
the  course  of  thepursiiei>.  Aiiv  mu,.  slight- 
ly acquainted  with  the  place  would  iia\e 
said  the  valley  was  a  deal h-tiap,  lor  it  eud- 
ed  in  bluffs  at  the  northern  end,  l.ut  Sam 
knew  every  foot  of  the  way,  and  knew,  too, 
just  liow  to  get  out  if  the'  enemy  followed 
into  the  valley. 


He  hoped  they  would  not  do  this,  but,  in- 
stead, divide  their  force,  and  ridcaround  to 
cut  off  at  the  further  end  of  the  ridges;  and 
this  was  what  seemed  most  probable,  for 
any  one  could  see  that  more  rapid  riding 
could  be  done  outside  the  ridges  than  be- 
tween. 


on.  and  then  the  pursuers  divided  into  thre 

paities.     The  flisf iniirising  forty  men, 

followed  in  his  u\\  u  iiaeks,  the  second  and 
third,  each  iiunil.oiiiii.  about  thirty,  went 
one  to  the  right  and  the  other  to  theleft. 

Sam  was  delighti-d.  All  was  working  to 
his  liking,  and  if  his  men  showed  the  mettle 
leM'xpeeted,  thev  would  surely  scoi'e  a  vic- 
liuy. 

They  were  riding  between  steep  bluffs 
which' seemed  impassable,  but  Cavalry  Sara 
Icnew  better.    Halfway  through,  he  turned 


ills  fell  back 
rst  party  of 
■   they  could 


rl  at  the 
nature's 
1  seemed 


from  a  wooded  plac 

and  struck  their  fla 

Before  that  dash 

never  to  rise  again, 


I  gallop,  they  were 
that  danger  was  at 

lit^  Unionists  burst 
le  base  of  the  ridge 
th    ie,-i>tless  force. 


nan  went  down 
eoufusion  yvhich 
)ve  of  the  kind 
could  not  but  eusne;  but  the  boys  in  gray 
\\(M  c  not  made  of  yielding  material,  and 
tiiey  i|uickly  rallied. 

'1  lie  IiisI  sho<.'k  had  reduced  theii'  number 
until  the  two  torces  were  about  equal,  and 
each  man  quickly  found  his  opponent,  and 
sabers  crossed  with  a  vengeful  clash. 

Sam,  however,  had  taken  pains  to  make 
his  followers  understand  that  all  depended 
on  a  quick  victory,  and  with  this  ideastrong 
in  their  minds  they  fought  with  a  fury  which, 
aided  by  the  surprise  given  the  Confeder- 
ates, soon  settled  the  d uel-at-large. 

Many  of  the  rebels  went  down,  and  then 
the  others,  who,  unluckily  for  them,  had  no 
ofBcer  at  their  head,  turned  and  tied  along 
the  back  frail. 

The  Unionists  did  not  pursue.  They,  too, 
wanted  to  run,  and  away  they  went  toward 
the  west. 

Cavalry  Sam,  however,  had  not  forgotten 
Jake  Shelley  aud  his  plans,  and  as  they  were 
already  two  miles  north  of  Wright's  rallying 
point,  he  determined  to  go  on  aud  strike  the 
Winchester  tin  npike  to  see  if  there  was  any 
sign  that  the  bushwhackers  were  lying  in 
wait  for  General  Sheridan. 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

SH  Em  DAN'S     BIDE. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  cause  of 
the  fact  that  General  Wright  was  in  tempo- 
rary command  at  Cedar  Creek  was  because 
the  Union  leader  had  gone  to  Washington  on 
ofHcial  business. 

His  business  finished,  Sheridan  returued 
to  Vviuc  luster,  and.was  sleeping  there  the 
eveutiiil  ]ii-lii  «liciL  Eaiivs  lorce  crept 
fhi'ouLili  ihi' passes  of  the  nd^c  and  across 
the  i»  ic(-U.ided  Sheiiaudoah    to   reach  the 

Early  in  the  morning,  that  long  to  be  re- 
membered nineteenth  of  October,  the  boom- 
ing of  cannon  waa  heard  iu  Winchester,  roll- 
ing up  from  the  soutli  with  the  tone  so 
familiar  in  the  valley  at  that  day. 

It  was  a  startling  sound,  but,  at  first,  Sheri- 
dan supposed  i  1  «  as  caused  only  by  a  recou- 
uoissance,  aud  calmly  made  his  breakfast 
without  a  suspicion  of  the  great  events  which 
were  to  follow. 

The  meal  finished,  he  mounted  his  horse 
aud  rode  southward  along  the  turnpike,  ac- 
companied by  his  escort,  and  not  yet  stirred 
into  full  activity.  He  was  going  to  rejoin 
his  boys  in  blue,  but  he  little  thought  that 
at  that  moment,  they  were  a  badly  whipped 
arinv,  all  in  letreat,  and  many  heei'ng  toward 
Wiii'ehester  without  any  pretense  to  order. 

His  eyes  were  opened  when,  before  reach- 
ing Kernstown,  he  met  the  van  ot  the  fugi- 
tives.   They  came  in   wild  disoi'der,  believ- 


ing themselves  closely  pursued ,  aud  desper- 
ate as  was  the  situation,  it  was  magnified 
live-fold  in  their  account  to  the  amazed  gen- 


actiou,  and  was  equal  to  the  test.  Bidding 
his  escort  follow,  he  again  moved  along  the 
turnpike,  this  time  at  a  tremendous  gallop, 
and  rod  after  rod  of  the  way  was  rapidly 
leftbehiud.  ^     ' 

The  crowd  of  fugitives  increased  in  num- 
bers as  he  went,  but  the  sight  of  their  loved 
leader  .speeding  toward  the  van,  warmed 
their  blood,  aud  they  greeted  him  with 
cheers, 

Swingiiii;  his  h. it  aiouiid  his  head.  ■■  Little 
Phil"  sent  hack  eu.  ..iiiagiiig  woi.ls  which 
have  gone  into  histui  v  to  be  read  by  mil- 
lions in  the  future,  who  are,  as  yet,  unborn. 

"Pace  the  other  way,  boys;  facefheofher 
way !  We  are  going  back  to  our  camp.  We 
are  going  to  lick  them  out  of  their  boots !" 

Never  was  there  an  act  more  inspiriting; 
never  a  deed  whicli  so  went  to  th<>  hearts  of 
the  men  he  led,  flUing  them  with  a  new  cour- 
age, born  of  his  own  heroism  and  dashing 
presence. 

The  erstwhile  pauic-strickeu  fugitives 
drew  a  Ion-  lucalh  as  lie  leceded,  looked  at 
each  other  (|U.stiouiui:h  .  iImu  j.aiised,  turn- 
ed their  faces  ■■  the  oilier  \wi\,  as  directed, 
and  the  feeblest  among  them  became  a  hero. 

Still  over  the  road  thundered  the  Union 
chief.  His  gallant  horse  seemed  to  under- 
stand the  dire  need  of  wondrous  speed;  he 
caught  the  enthusiasm  ot  his  master,  and 
with  his  powerful  form  strained  to  the 
utmost  spurned  the  hard  load  under  his  fly- 
ing feet  and  i  ut  down  mile  after  mile  of  the 
interveniug  space. 

Well  might  he  speed,  for  much  was  at 
stake  on  that  famous  ride;  well  might  he 
flash  his  eyes  with  pride,  for  never  did  a 
horse  run  a  more  gallant  course,  or  carry  a 
more  gallant  rider. 

Histoiy  was  waiting  to  tell  ot  man  and 
horse. 

Ride,  Sheridan,  ride,  for  your  boys  in  blue 
need  your  potent  voice ;  speed,  proud  horse, 
speed,  for  you  are  carrying  your  master 
South  "  to  save  the  day."  ' 


Near  the  Winchester  road,  half  way  be- 
tween that  place  and  Middletowu,  a  score  of 
men  iu  Union  blue  were  riding  slowly 
north.  That  they  were  not  panic-stricken 
fugitives  was  shown  by  their  onlerlv  move- 
ments, and  when  we  say  that  ('avaliy  Sam 
was  at  their  head  the  reader  will  need  no 
further  introduction. 

Carrington  was  looking  earnesflj-  ahead, 
and  his  face  suddenly  brightened  when 
'Ziah  Strout  emerged  from  a  wood  and  rode 
slowly  down  to  meet  them. 

"  Well?"  questioned  Sam,  quickly. 

"  I've  found  'em,"  answered  the  scout. 

"Where?" 

"  Ambushed  near  the  road  in  that  very 
wood.     Jake  Shelley  is  fhar  ill  his  pride,  aii" 


Iki 


the 


bullet  thai  shall  kill  Phil  Sherid 

"He  will  never  speed  it.  "  said  Captain 
Carrington.  sternly.  ■•  Prepare  for  fight, 
men,  and  we  will  sweep   those  dogs  away." 

"Wait,"  said  'Ziah. 

"For  what  ?" 

"  Thar's  a  hnndretl  on  them  thar.  Jake 
Shelley  has  picked  up  more  men  somewhar. 
all  bushwhackers,  an'  they  are  five  to  our 
one." 

"I  don't  care  if  there  are  five  hundred. 
Boys,  those  fellows  cannot  stand  a  vigorous 
chai'ge,  aud  we  shall  have  them  hemmed  in 
between  ourselves  and  the  men  who  are 
passing  along  the  turnpike.  What  sav  von, 
shall  we  strike  with  a  rush,  and  to  kill !'"' 

Every  man  answered  affirmatively,  and 
then  Ziah  smote  himself  on  the  thigh. 

"Hurrah  fur  you,  ye  eternal  slashers!" 
he  said.  "  I  knowed  I  must  warn  yer.  but  I 
thought  I  was  sure  o'  your  pluck.  Poller 
mean'   we  will  give  Jake  Shelley  a  lesson." 

"It  shall  be  his  last,  if  I  get  a  chance  at 
him,"  the  captain  muttered. 

'Ziah  led  the  way  and  the  cavalrymen 
followed  in  dead  sile'uce;  they  were  resolved 
to  make  a  sure  thing  of  it. 

At  the  eiiil  of  ten  minutes  they  had  gained 
the  proper  position  for  the  proposed  dash, 
and  then  only  one  word  from  Carrington 
was  needed  to  hurl  them  on  the  foe. 

In  the  und.-rbrnsh,  Jacob  Shelley  and  his 
bushwhackers  lurked  and  awaited  the  com- 
ing of  the  ITiiion  chief.  Situated  as  they 
were,  they  could  not  very  well  miss  their 
aim  if  once  their  rifles  covered  his  gallant 
form,  and  though  some  of  them  feared  that 
retribution  would  speedily  follow  the  das- 


24 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


tardly  deed,  they  were  resolved  to  risk  all. 

But,  without  auy  warning,  a  sudden 
crashing  sounded  iu  the  bushea  behind 
them,  and  as  they  looked  around,  it  was  to 
see  a  body  of  men  in  Union  blue  dashing 
upon  them  with  drawn  sabers,  too  near 
when  seen  to  be  avoided  by  the  bulk  of  the 
bushwhackers. 

It  was  one  of  those  sudden  dashes  which 
made  our  civil  war  famous,  and  one  of  those 
gallant  exploits  which  had  earned  for  the 
young  leader  his  subi-iguet  of  "  Cavalry 
Sam  ;"  and  on  the  present  occasion  he  cared 
nothing  for  the  fact  that  the  foe  was  Hve 
times  his  own  number. 

With  a  cheer  they  dashed  among  the  bush- 
whackers, who  had  left  their  own  horses 
at  one  bide,  aud  then  revolver  and  saber 
were  busy.  The  crack  of  the  former  was 
often  followed  by  the  vicious  sound  of  the 
ball  as  it  struck  flesh  and  bone,  aud  oul  over 
the  steel  crept  the  little  streams  of  red  as 
they  were  sent  home. 

Shelley's  voice  arose,  urging  his  men  to 
stand  firm,  and  though  a  fuU  score  ran  away 
at  the  first,  the  others  obeyed  and  fought 
bravely. 

The  advantage  was  against  them,  how- 
ever, despite  their  superior  numbers,  for 
while  they  fought  on  foot,  the  Unionists 
galloped  about  and  struck  wherever  a  head 
was  to  be  seen. 

Dead  and  dying  men  soon  covered  the 
ground,  but  not  one  wore  Union  blue.  It 
was  hard  to  get  at  the  charging  troopers, 
and  some  decree  of  Providence  seemed  to 
shield  them  from  the  enemy's  bullets. 

'Ziah  was  ever  at  the  front,  and  his  loud 
cheers  arose  frequently  as  he  fought  iu  his 
grim  way. 

Cavalry  Sam  seemed  to  bear  a  charmed 
blade  aud  a  charmed  life.  No  one  could 
reach  his  person  with  steel  or  ball,  aud 
where  he  fought  the  destruction  was  ter- 
rible. 

His  gaze  was  ever  roving  in  search  of  Jake 
Shelley,  and  at  last  he  saw  »im  at  the  out- 
skirts of  the  battle. 

The  guerrilla  chief  had  seen  that  the  fight 
was  goiug  against  his  gang,  and  had  resolved 
to  save  himself,  happen  what  might  to  those 
he  left  behind. 

Sam  spurred  toward  him. 

•'  Hold,  you  base  dog!"  he  shouted.  "You 
and  I  have  a  debt  to  settle  I  Hold,  where  you 
lire!" 

Shelley  had  no  heart  to  obey,  for  he  feared 
the  mau  he  had  once  hunted  with  blood- 
hounds; but  he  saw  that  he  must  either 
turn  and  fight  or  be  overtaken  and  run  the 
risk  of  being  attacked  in  the  rear,  so  he 
wheeled  and  fa<^ed  his  enemy  with  a  saber 
in  his  hand. 

"Villainl"  exclaimed  the  captain,  as  he 
reined  in  his  horse  so  suddenly  that  the 
earth  was  flung  high  in  the  air.  "I  have 
you  at  last.  We  will  fight  to  the  death,  but 
it  shall  bo  on  equal  terms." 

He  sprung  from  his  saddle,  and  at  last  they 
stood  face  to  face,  armed  alike,  in  every  wa^ 
on  equal  terms,  and  both  well  aware  that  it 
was  to  be  a  duel  iu  which  one  would  fall. 

Their  sabers  crossed,  and  then  began  a 
desperate  combat.  What  Shelley  lacked  iu 
science  he  made  up  in  strength  and  zeal, 
while  his  guard  was  really  very  good.  Stroke 
tor  stroke,  parry  for  parry,  a  "wall  of  steel 
seemed  to  be  between  the  two,  and  the  clash 
echoed  strangely  through  the  wood. 

Unknown  to  either,  for  they  had  eyes  only 
for  themselves,  the  other  men  were  done 
with  fight.  The  guerrillas  had  fled  or  sur- 
rendered, and  the  boys  in  blue  stood  around 
the  duelists,  silently  watching. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

HOW  SHERIDAN  KEPT  HIS  WORD. 

( 'avalry  Sam  began  to  press  his  opponent 
sliarply.  He  had  found  that  all  the  fellow's 
prowess  lay  in  self-defense ;  he  dared  not 
make  a  determined  assault  himself.  At  the 
lust,  he  was  fighting  only  with  a  vague  hope 
that  some  lucky  ohance  would  give  him  the 
victory. 

Sam  8  movements  became  bewildering. 
His  saber  seemed  everywhere  at  once.  The 
wall  of  steel  dazzled  Shelley.  He  gave 
ground,  aud  felt  a  strong  desire  to  wheel 
and  run.  Already  he  was  lireathing  hard, 
while  Sam  was  as  fresh  as  ever. 

Suddenly  a  shout  went  up  from  the  boys 
m  blue.  The  bushwhacker  was  down ;  and 
as  they  saw  the  blood  gush  out  over  his 
his  breast,  they  knew  he  had  received  his 
last  hurt. 

With  a  powerful  effort  he  raised  himself 
■  1   his  elbow,  and    reached    for  his  falleu 


were  about  to  close  upon  it,  he  gasped, 
trembled,  and  then  fell  back  with  a  moan. 

He  had  gone  on  his  last  raid. 

The  victory  was  complete.  Many  guer- 
rillas lay  dead  on  the  ground,  others  were 
prisoners,  and  the  remainder  had  gone  away 
in  swift  flight. 

The  dash  had  resulted  well. 

Out  on  the  highway  went  the  boys  in 
blue.  Down  the  hard  road  came  a  horse- 
man at  whom  all  looked  with  joy.  Cheers 
greeted  him  as  he  rode;  aud,  without  a  word 
of  reproach  to  the  fugitives,  he  swung  his 
hat  as  he  came,  and  uttered  words  of  en- 
couragement. 

Sheridan  was  nearing  the  goal. 

Captain  Carrington  and  his  handful  of 
bluecoats  fell  into  the  rear,  and  the  remain- 
ing miles  were  soon  passed. 

When  Sheridan  entered  the  Union  camp 
he  found  matters  much  better  thau  he  had 
dared  hope.  General  Wright  had  been  doing 
all  that  man  could  to  get  the  troops  iuto  or- 
der aud  ready  for  an  attack  in  turn,  aud 
Sheridan  approved  ot  all  he  had  done. 

"We'll  have  camps  and  all  those  cannon 
back  again,"  said  the  plucky  Sheridan,  as  he 
rode  along  the  front  and  gave  to  each  regi- 
ment the  encouraging  words  which  made 
them  cheer  louder  even  than  the  fugitives 
had  cheered. 

Preparations  for  an  advance  went  on  stead- 
ily, and  at  three  o'clock  the  order  for  mov- 
ing <-ame. 

The  Uniouists  were  no  longer  a  beaten  and 
demoralized  army.  At  one  o'clock  Emory 
hud  won  one  move  in  the  game  by  repulsing 
an  attack,  all  of  which  went  to  brighten  the 
vision  of  the  boys  in  blue;  and  when  Sheri- 
dan came  down  among  them,  no  more  was 
needed. 

They  felt  sure  of  victory. 

When  the  army  moved,  a  firm  and  resolute 
column  of  veterans  set  their  faces  toward 
the  south,  and  went  on  steadily. 

Captaiu  Caningtou  had  rejoined  his  com- 
mand, but  he  found  many  a  man  missing 
who  had  spoken  with  him  but  twenty-four 
hours  before.  Now,  they  were  going  to  .seek 
satisfactiou. 

The  first  line  of  the  Confederates  was  at- 
tacked with  zeal.  They  stood  firm  for  a 
while,  but  the  pressure  was  too  strong,  and 
they  fell  back  to  give  the  artillery  a  chauoe. 

With  the  renewed  boom  of  the  great  guns 
came  new  destruction  for  the  Unionists,  and 
the  leaden  storm  was  so  hot  that  for  a  while 
they  were  checked,  but  their  leader  was 
equal  to  the  emergency. 

Enough  veterans  were  brought  into  active 
use,  and  two  gallant  charges  sufficed  to  carry 
their  position. 

At  the  same  time  the  cavalry  came  down 
heavily  on  both  of  Early's  flanks,  and  under 
this  resistless  pressure  the  boys  in  gray  could 
not  stand. 

Confusion  seized  upon  the  whole  Confeder- 
ate array.  Beset  with  an  impetuosity  which 
exceeded  their  own  at  Cedar  Creek,  they 
turned  and  fled  in  great  disorder.  Through 
Middletown  they  went  in  a  way  which  re- 
called Sheridan's  dispatch  after  the  battle 
of  a  former  o(!Oasioii,  "  We  have  just  sent  the 
enemy  whirliug  through   Winchester.  " 

Beyond  the  latter  place  the  road  was  nar- 
row and  poor,  and  it  soon  became  filled  with 
cannon,  wagons  and  the  like,  all  in  a  con- 


influenced  Early  to  leave  them  where  they 
were  and  save  his  men  if  nothing  more. 

He  coutiuued  his  flight  with  his  broken 
army,  au  army  which  was  destined  to  never 
again  fight  a  battle  iu  the  Shennndoah  Val- 
ley. Almost  utterly  ruiued,  they  had  no  re- 
sources at  their  command,  and  on  that  day 
the  war  in  the  Shenandoah  practically 
ended. 


American  history. 

Our  account  of  Cavalry  Sam  may  well  end 
in  detail  with  that  great  day  in  the  valley, 
though  there  is  much  more  that  might  bo  ( 
written.  * 

Let  us  briefly  say  that  his  services  on  that 
day  gained  for  him  a  major's  commission, 
and  that  he  was  with  General  Custer  in  his 
encounter  with  Early  at  Waynesboro  on  the 
second  of  the  following  March,  and  in  the 
daring  exploits  that  followed.  Another 
story  might  be  written  of  his  adventures 
when  he  went  under  the  brave  Sheridan  to 
aid  Grant  in  capturing  Richmond. 

How  that  undertaking  succeeded,  is  well 
known,  and  when  General  Lee  finally  sur- 
rendered the  remnant  of  his  brave  but  bat- 
tle-torn army,  it  was  Colonel  Siuuud  Car- 
rington, who  silently  thanked   Ueavcn  that 


there  would  be  no  more  war  in  hi.<  native 
land. 

And  one  day  he  asked  permission  to  hold 
an  interview  with  General  Alfred  Penrock, 
who  was  among  those  to  surrender,  and  the 
friends  met  as  brothers  once  more. 

"Alfred!" 

"Sam!" 

And  as  their  handsorossedtheyforgotthat 
they  were  dignified  officers,  and  that  they 
had  fought  on  opposing  sides  through  long 
years  of  war. 

War  there  had  been,  dark  and  dreadful, 
but  their  hearts  were  the  same  as  when  they 
played  together  as  children  under  the  shad- 
ow of  the  whispeiing  pines. 

Let  us  take  a  partiug  glance  la  all  our 
characters  one  year  later. 

In  tne  Shenandoah  Valley,  all  is  once  more 
peace  and  quite.  War  has  vanished  and  busi- 
ness has  been  lesumcd.  New  houses  have 
gone  up  where  old  ones  stood,  and  on  the 
Canington  aud  Penrock  plantations  these 
are  esiiecially  fine. 

The  Warburton  mansion  is  ablaze  with 
light,  and  all  the  people  around  know  that 
on  that  evening  both  Augusta  and  Vida  are 
to  be  married.  The  younger  sister  it  is  who 
is  to  become  Mrs.  Carrington,  but  Augusta 
feels  no  regret. 

Once,  she  cared  for  Sam  with  more  than 
common  tenderness,  but  her  affection  turned 
to  Alfred,  and  now  she  is  as  happy  as  any 
there. 

Outside  the  house,  two  men  stand  together 
earnestly  talking.  One  is  'Ziah  Strout,  the 
other,  Edmund  Smith. 

"  Bress  de  Lord,"  says  the  latter ;  "  I  neb- 
ber  was  so  happy  before.  Did  you  see  how 
fine  dey  all  look  ?  Oh,  dis  am  a  glorious  oc- 
cashun." 

"  Right  you  are.  Cleon,  right  you  are," 
says  the  scout,  with  emotion.  "  Et  beats  ill 
the  weddin's  I  ever  seed  in  Virgiuny,  an' 
you  an'  me  will  dance  a  breakdown  when 
we  get  time." 

And  then  Aunt  Molly  opens  the  door. 

"Hi!  yo'i  uus,  what  you  doiu' darf  Don't 
you  dare  keep  de  weddin'  waitin'.  Come 
right  in  dis  minute,  an'  mind  you  behave 
well  afore  de  minister!" 

May  peace  and  prosperity  ever  hover  over 
the  beautiful  Valley  of  the  Shenaudoab. 

THE  END. 


The  War  Library 


hia  battles  over  between  the  lines,  as  well  as  the 
rising-  itineration,  ever  eager  to  read  of  deeds  of 
patriotism  and  heroism  this  library  will  bo  a  wel- 

The  War  Library  will  be  issued  weekly,  com- 
plete in  each  number.  Fresh  and  original,  it  will 
occupy  a  new  field,  and  be  free  from  ultra  parti- 
zanship.    Price  ten  cent^  a  copy. 


Catalogue  of  the  War  Library. 

l-MAJORHOTSPUR;or,  Kilpatrlok's 

Dashing   Rider.      By  Marline    Manly.      A 

rousing  story  of  Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea. 

2-BLUE  OR  CRAY;  or.  Hunted  Spy  of 

the  Chicltahonnlny.     By  Ward  Edward*. 

•'  Hiyli  Private,"  U.  S.  V. 

3-CAVALRY  SAM;  or.  The  Raiders  <»/ 
the  Shenandoah.    By  Capt.  Mark  wiiton. 

A  tlirilling  t;ilo  of  Sheridan  and  his  men. 

4~ON  TO  RICHMOND  ;  or.  Scout  and 
Spy  of  the  Grand  Army. 
Grant.  [Iteady  Oct.  7. 

5-VICKSBU  RG;or,The  Dashing  Yan- 
kee Middyof  the  Gunboat  Flotilla. 

By  Corporal  Morris  Hoyne.  A  s'.ory  of  the  Great 
Siege. 

6-SHILOH  ;  or.  Only  a  Private-  By 
Ward  Edwards,  U.  S.  V.  A  stirring  romance 
of  a  Kentuekian  Campaign.  [Ready  Oct.  21. 

7-BULLET  AND  BAYONET,  or.  Guer- 
rillas of  the  Ozark.  By  Captahi  Mark  Wil- 
ton. A  tiile  of  tlie  Missouri  battlefields. 


